Game Recap

DALLAS 3, EDMONTON 1 EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - It took the NHL playoffs for Dallas Stars forward Benoit Hogue to come up with the heroics. Hogue scored twice Wednesday night -- including his second consecutive game-winning goal -- as Dallas dumped the Edmonton Oilers 3-1. Dallas holds a commanding 3-1 series lead in its best-of-7 Western Conference semifinal. Game 5 is in Dallas on Saturday. Hogue, who now has four playoff goals, sealed the win for Dallas at 11:45 of the third period. He beat Edmonton goaltender Curtis Joseph high on the stick side with a wicked drive from the top of the face-off circle. "I was surprised it went in," said a beaming Hogue, who scored the winner in overtime in Game 3. "You never expect to get two game-winners on the road. Some great things are happening to me and I'm enjoying it. "I have had a lot of ice time. ... The more ice time you get, the more confidence you get. I just hope nothing stops it." Joseph had little chance on the shot as Oilers defenseman Greg de Vries screened the Edmonton goaltender. The Oilers did come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the opening round against the Colorado Avalanche. But heading to Dallas to face the determined and defensive Stars poses a much bigger challenge for Edmonton. Dallas had 31 shots and a 2-1 lead in the first two periods of Game 4. And without the heroics of Joseph, the Oilers would have found themselves trailing by more than a goal. Edmonton center Doug Weight said the Oilers are thinking too much and not just playing the game. "We've got to go back into Dallas with confidence," he said. "We won the last one there (Game 2) and we're going to try to take one at a time." Dallas took a 2-1 lead at 14:52 of the second period when Hogue beat Joseph on a breakaway. Dallas veteran Guy Carbonneau scored his first goal of the playoffs at 8:46 of the opening period. He rifled a low shot past Joseph for a short-lived 1-0 lead. Edmonton's Scott Fraser struck back 97 seconds later when his quick shot from the high slot handcuffed Dallas goalie Ed Belfour. It was Fraser's first of the postseason. Dallas Stars 3, EMDONTON OILERS 1 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- DALLAS 1 1 1 3 EDMONTON 1 0 0 1 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Carbonneau 1 (Langenbrunner, Lind), 8:36. 2, Edmonton, Fraser 1 (McAmmond), 10:13. PENALTIES: Buchberger, Edm (slashing), 5:29. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 3, Dallas, Hogue 3 (D.Hatcher), 13:52. PENALTIES: Langenbrunner, Dal (interference), :05; Berehowsky, Edm (hooking), 1:15; Dollas, Edm (cross-checking), 1:58; Niinimaa, Edm (holding), 4:24; Matvichuk, Dal (interference), 6:53; Chambers, Dal (boarding), 9:36; Sydor, Dal (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:12; Guerin, Edm (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:12; Mironov, Edm (interference), 17:11; Dollas, Edm (slashing), 19:51. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 4, Dallas, Hogue 4 (Adams), 7:45. PENALTIES: Bassen, Dal (slashing), 3:50; Sydor, Dal (goalie interference), 5:36; Modano, Dal (interference), 18:30. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- DALLAS 17 14 5 36 EDMONTON 12 5 7 24 POWER PLAY: Dallas 0 of 6; Edmonton 0 of 6. GOALIES: Dallas, Belfour 7-3 (24 shots-23 saves). Edmonton, Joseph 5-6 (36-33). Referee: Paul Devorski. Linesmen: Shane Heyer, Jay Sharrers. A: 17,099 (17,099).