Game Recap

DALLAS 5, PHOENIX 2 PHOENIX (AP) - Derian Hatcher and the Dallas Stars seem to enjoy playing in Phoenix. Hatcher had three assists and Brett Hull scored twice in the Stars' 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night. The victory, which snapped a two-game losing streak, was the Stars' first in three tries (1-1-1) against the Coyotes this season. But Dallas improved its record to 4-0-1 in its last five games in Phoenix dating to last season. "They beat us at home quite a bit, too," Hatcher said. "We come in here and want to play our game. I can't really put my finger on it. It's just part of the game." Jamie Langenbrunner, Brenden Morrow and Roman Lyashenko also scored for Dallas, which is 4-0-1 in its last five games in Phoenix. Landon Wilson and Wyatt Smith scored for Phoenix. Hatcher thinks that the Stars just get fired up to play in Phoenix. "There's a lot of stuff going on," Hatcher said. "When we're playing Phoenix, it's a bit of a rivalry. When you're going against (Keith) Tkachuk and (Jeremy) Roenick, they're going to hit you and you're going to hit them. You've got to be ready for it and that ups your game a little bit." Tkachuk isn't concerned about the Stars' success in Phoenix. He is more worried about how the Coyotes, losers of five of their last seven games, are playing. "We felt we came out in the first 10 minutes of the first period and really controlled the game," Tkachuk said, "and obviously they got a couple of power-play goals. We still gave ourselves a chance to battle back. "Right now, the focus should be on the top six forwards of our hockey team just not getting it done." Phoenix finally scored at 12:45 of the second period on a drive by Wilson. The Coyotes made it 4-2 at 15:50 of the second. Smith picked up a loose puck at the red line and beat Stars' goalie Ed Belfour from the right circle on the move for a short-hander. Hull closed out the scoring with a goal at 2:46 of the third period, his 15th of the season. "He gives this team what it definitely was missing," Hatcher said. "He's a pure goal scorer, no matter which way you slice it. He's the best one-timer in the darn league." Dallas Stars 5, PHOENIX COYOTES 2 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 3 1 1 5 Phoenix 0 2 0 2 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Langenbrunner 5 (Hatcher), 13:41 (pp). 2, Dallas, Morrow 7 (Hatcher, Matvichuk), 14:48 (pp). 3, Dallas, Lyashenko 2 (Hull), 19:25. PENALTIES: DeBrusk, Pho, double minor (high sticking), 12:35; Sydor, Dal, double minor (roughing), 18:58; Wilson, Pho, double minor (roughing), 18:58; Hatcher, Dal, major (fighting), 19:53; DeBrusk, Pho, major (fighting), 19:53. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 4, Dallas, Hull 14 (Keane, Hatcher), 8:13. 5, Phoenix, Wilson 8 (Letowski, Carney), 12:45. 6, Phoenix, Smith 3 (Ylonen), 15:50 (sh). PENALTIES: Lyashanko, Dal (holding), 2:01; Carney, Pho (hooking), 6:11; Hatcher, Dal, major (fighting), 10:37; DeBrusk, Pho, minor-major-misconduct (instigator, fighting), 10:37; Sydor, Dal, major (fighting), 14:49; Wilson, Pho, minor-major-misconduct (instigator, fighting), 14:49; Sim, Dal (slashing), 18:25. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 7, Dallas, Hull 15 (Modano, Lehtinen), 2:46. PENALTIES: Matvichuk, Dal (roughing), :35; Roenick, Pho (roughing), :35; Lyashenko, Dal (slashing), 3:09; Hansen, Pho (holding stick), 7:31; Ylonen, Pho (hooking), 12:57; Matvichuk, Dal (hooking), 13:32. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 13 6 8 27 Phoenix 5 7 11 23 POWER PLAY: Dallas 2 of 7; Phoenix 0 of 4. GOALIES: Dallas, Belfour 11-7-3 (23 shots-21 saves). Phoenix, Esche 3-3-1 (27-22). Referees: Brian Murphy, Scott Zelkin. Linesmen: Wayne Bonney, Dan McCourt. A: 13,896 (16,210).