Stars Blank Wild, Extend Road Streak
ST. PAUL, MN (Sports Network) - Jamie Benn scored twice and Andrew Raycroft stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the season as Dallas downed Minnesota, 4-0, at Xcel Energy Center.
Trevor Daley and James Neal also tallied while Brad Richards notched a pair of assists for the Stars, who have won three of four overall but tied a franchise record by posting their seventh consecutive road win.
"We just played two tough games coming off a road trip but still got the start that we wanted," said Dallas head coach Marc Crawford. "It was very good execution by our club in doing what you've gotta do in order to win games like this."
Jose Theodore allowed four goals on 28 shots for the Wild, whose four-game win streak was snapped. Minnesota had topped the Penguins by the same score on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Dallas picked up the game's first goal just 2:33 in, when Richards found a seam through the slot and dished to Daley for a tip-in.
The Stars went to intermission up by two after Benn tipped a Nicklas Grossman shot out of midair with 49 seconds to play.
Raycroft was not seriously tested in the second period, and only saw five shots as Dallas threw up a defensive blanket over the Wild.
Neal's 15th goal of the season just before the midway point of the third gave the visitors a three-goal edge and Benn ripped a shot home from the right circle with 5:32 to play to make it 4-0.
Raycroft finished off his perfect contest with 10 saves in the final stanza.
"They are a physical team, they got some goals and we had some chances in the offensive zone but couldn't put it in the net," said Wild defenseman Nick Schultz. "Some games you put in the effort and it just doesn't happen. We have to put this one behind us."
Game Notes
The last time the Stars won seven straight away from home was between November 15-December 15, 2001...Richards notched his third multi-point effort in his last four games and posted his 12th multi-point contest this season...Forward Jamie Langenbrunner made his Stars debut after being dealt from New Jersey on Friday...Raycroft earned his ninth career whitewash, and it marks the first time since the 2006-07 season, with Toronto, that he's recorded more than one shutout in a year.
