Stars Shutout Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks were passed up for sixth place Thursday as the Dallas Stars blew out Chicago. Corey Crawford started, but was pulled from the ice after allowing three goals. The Blackhawks struggled to put the puck in the net and fell to the stars without scoring once.
Jamie Benn extended his point streak to nine games with a goal and an assist, Kari Lehtonen made 23 saves for his 16th NHL shutout, and the Dallas Stars beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0 on Thursday night.
Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow, Jason Williams and Brandon Segal added goals for Dallas, which ended a two-game skid.
Mike Ribeiro and Brad Richards had two assists each in support of Lehtonen, who has two shutouts in four games.
Chicago dropped to 9-2-2 in its last 13 games.
The Stars finished 3-1 against the Blackhawks this season and went 5-2-1 against Chicago the past two seasons.
Richards connected with Ott on a long stretch pass, and Ott converted on a breakaway at 17:37 of the first period to stop a 16-game drought.
Benn made it 2-0 at 1:01 of the second, scoring his 21st goal with a one-timer from the right circle off a 2-on-1 break with Ribeiro. Benn has eight goals in nine games, the NHL's longest current point streak.
Morrow extended the lead at 3:35 of the second on another one-timer from the right circle.
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville then pulled rookie goalie Corey Crawford in favor of former Stars netminder Marty Turco.
Williams gave his team a four-goal advantage at 2:54 of the third when he scored into an open net after intercepting Turco's attempt at a clearing pass up the right boards. Segal then scored off a rebound with 8:08 left.
Notes: Dallas recalled Segal from the Texas of the AHL. He adds forward depth with RW Loui Eriksson out because of an upper body injury. Segal went to the dressing room for stitches after his head was cut in a first-period fight with Jake Dowell. Segal returned for the second period. ... Dallas forward Adam Burish (lower body) sat out his third consecutive game. ... Lehtonen has started 12 straight and played in his 58th game this season. Injuries limited Lehtonen to 58 games over the previous two seasons. ... Lehtonen received an assist on Ott's goal, his franchise-record sixth this season. ... D Brian Campbell (left leg), C Dave Bolland (concussion), LW Bryan Bickell (illness) and D Jordan Hendry (knee) were out for Chicago.
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