Game Recap

DALLAS 3, COLUMBUS 0 DALLAS 3, COLUMBUS 0 DALLAS (AP) - Ed Belfour is taking all the pressure away from the Dallas Stars' offense. Belfour stopped 23 shots for his third straight shutout and stretched his scoreless streak to a career high and franchise record 190 minutes and 44 seconds as the Stars remained unbeaten in five games with a 3-0 victory Friday night over the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets. "Eddie's making big saves with the game on the line and we're able to protect leads," coach Ken Hitchcock said. "When he smells it, he really hunkers down." Belfour registered his league-high sixth shutout, in his 21st game, and the 54th of his career to move into sole possession of 14th place on the NHL list. "I'm getting a few breaks right now and I'm seeing the puck really well," Belfour said after registering the fifth shutout in his last eight games. "Sometimes you get on a roll in the nets and you get some shutouts. Right now our team is playing really well in front of me, very consistent." The record for shutouts in a season is 22 by George Hainesworth of the Montreal Canadiens in 1928-29. Chicago's Tony Esposito set the modern record of 15 in 1969-70. Columbus coach Dave King said Belfour has a shot to eclipse Esposito. "He does because he's a tremendous goalie, probably a Hall of Fame goalie," King said. "And he's on a team that plays a great team concept and great team defense." Belfour has shut out the Blue Jackets in both of their visits to Reunion Arena this season. His toughest test came with 5:05 to play when he stopped Robert Kron on a breakaway. With three straight shutouts, Belfour matched the franchise record set by Cesare Maniago with the Minnesota North Stars in December of 1967. Belfour also broke Maniago's franchise record shutout streak of 188:38 . Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk scored first-period goals for the Stars, 4-0-1 in their last five games. "We're playing with a lot of confidence, and it seems like Eddie's got that playoff mentality," Langenbrunner said. Mike Modano added his seventh goal of the season with 8:50 to play. Columbus lost its fourth in a row after tying the expansion record with four straight victories. DALLAS STARS 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Columbus 0 0 0 0 Dallas 2 0 1 3 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Langenbrunner 3 (Nieuwendyk), 4:22. 2, Dallas, Nieuwendyk 10 (Lagenbrunner, Matvichuk), 15:52 (pp). PENALTIES: Knutsen, Clm (holding stick), 15:46. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Maltais, Col (hooking), 7:57. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 3, Dallas, Modano 7, 11:10. PENALTIES: Lukowich, Dal, major (fighting), 3:41; Dineen, Clm, major (fighting), 3:41; Muller, Dal (high sticking), 4:00; Wright, Clm, double minor (boarding, unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:41; Morrow, Dal, double minor (slashing, roughing), 13:02; Dineen, Clm (roughing), 13:02. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Columbus 9 7 7 23 Dallas 12 8 5 25 POWER PLAY: Columbus 0 of 1; Dallas 1 of 4. GOALIES: Columbus, Denis 1-6-0 (25 shots-22 saves). Dallas, Belfour 10-5-3 (23-23). Referees: Paul Devorski, Mike Leggo. Linesmen: Brad Lazarowich, Pierre Racicot. A: 17,001 (17,001).