Game Recap

DALLAS 8, PITTSBURGH 2 PITTSBURGH (AP) - A 20-goal season is an accomplishment for most NHL players. It's only a warmup for Brett Hull. Hull scored two goals as the Dallas Stars beat Pittsburgh 8-2 on Saturday night, giving him a share of the league lead with 21 goals. He has at least 20 goals in 14 consecutive seasons. "I don't consider 20 goals anything," Hull said. "I'd be embarrassed if I didn't get 20." Hull, who has been critical of the way the NHL runs the game, said he won't stick around to threaten Gordie Howe's career record of 22 straight seasons with at least 20 goals. "That's one he can have," Hull said. Pittsburgh has lost five straight at home, matching the team's second-longest home futility streak. The Penguins lost seven consecutive home games in 1983-84. The Penguins expect Mario Lemieux, the Hall of Famer and team owner, to be in the lineup for their next home game, Dec. 27 against Toronto. "Mario will be back and hopefully we will have more confidence," Pittsburgh coach Ivan Hlinka said. Goalie Garth Snow said he hoped the Penguins aren't playing poorly because they're distracted by Lemieux's return. "I don't think so," Snow said. "We have games to play and we need to play well to take the pressure off him so he can come in on the right foot." Pittsburgh's Jan Hrdina scored the game's first goal, but the Stars countered with two goals in the first period. Mike Modano took advantage of defenseman Michal Rozsival's giveaway and scored at 8:16. Hull beat Snow from the middle of the left circle on a power play 14:18. Joe Nieuwendyk lifted a shot over Snow's shoulder on a power play for the only goal of the second as the Stars moved out to a 3-1 lead. Hull scored on a breakaway at 5:08 of the third, faking a shot before he slipping a backhander into the net and initiating a three-goal run in a 1:16 span that chased Snow. Jere Lehtinen scored his seventh and Roman Lyashenko got a goal at 6:04, prompting Pittsburgh coach to replace Snow with Rich Parent. Jiri Slegr beat Ed Befour with a 45-foot slap shot in the third. Shaun Van Allen beat Parent for his second goal, and Blake Sloan scored in the last minute. Dallas Stars 8, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 2 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 2 1 5 8 Pittsburgh 1 0 1 2 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Pittsburgh, Hrdina 7 (Petersen, Jagr), 4:58. 2, Dallas, Modano 12, 5:27. 3, Dallas, Hull 20 (Sydor, Zubov), 14:18 (pp). PENALTIES: Donato, Dal (holding), 8:16; Slegr, Pit (roughing), 14:09; Bouck, Dal, double minor (roughing, cross-checking), 18:42; Slegr, Pit (roughing), 18:42. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 4, Dallas, Nieuwendyk 14 (Hull, Modano), 5:58 (pp). PENALTIES: Norton, Pit (cross-checking), 1:57; Jagr, Pit (hooking), 4:50. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 5, Dallas, Hull 21 (Nieuwendyk), 5:08. 6, Dallas, Lehtinen 7 (Modano, Zubov), 6:00. 7, Dallas, Lyashenko 3 (Hatcher, Matvichuk), 6:24. 8, Pittsburgh, Slegr 5 (Petersen), 6:58. 9, Dallas, Van Allen 2 (Nieuwendyk, Muller), 13:55. 10, Dallas, Sloan 1 (Bouck, Lyashenko), 19:18. PENALTIES: Morrow, Dal (slashing), 5:13; Kovalev, Pit (slashing), 5:13; Morrow, Dal, major (fighting), 18:45; Rosaval, Pit, major (fighting), 18:45. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 14 12 10 36 Pittsburgh 7 14 8 29 POWER PLAY: Dallas 2 of 3; Pittsburgh 0 of 2. GOALIES: Dallas, Belfour 15-9-4 (29 shots-27 saves). Pittsburgh, Snow 7-10-4 (30-24), Parent (6:24 third, 6-4). Referees: Lance Roberts, Don Van Massenhoven. Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Steve Miller. A: 16,505 (16,958).