GAME THREAD: NHL: LOS ANGELES (8-11) at DALLAS (8-11)

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NHL LOS ANGELES 0
DALLAS 3
3RD PRD: DAL - (PP) JERE LEHTINEN 6 (MIKE RIBEIRO, BRENDEN MORROW)
15:24</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NHL LOS ANGELES 0
DALLAS 3 1:45 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
LOS ANGELES 0 0 0 0
DALLAS 0 1 2 3 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: DAL - STEVE OTT 2 (LOUI ERIKSSON) 18:37
3RD PRD: DAL - NIKLAS HAGMAN 9 (STEPHANE ROBIDAS) 13:10
DAL - (PP) JERE LEHTINEN 6 (MIKE RIBEIRO, BRENDEN MORROW)
15:24

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: LOS - 0 OF 3, DAL - 1 OF 2.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
LOS 9 7 6 22
DAL 4 11 11 26

GOALIES: LOS - JASON LABARBERA
DAL - MIKE SMITH

OFFICIALS: REF - ERIC FURLATT, GREG KIMMERLY
LIN - JAY SHARRERS, JONNY MURRAY

ATT: 17,208</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0 0 0 --0
Dallas 0 1 2 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Hagman, Dal (holding), 8:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Dallas, Steve Ott 2 (Loui Eriksson), 18:37.
Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (holding), 5:21; M Handzus, Los
(tripping), 15:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Dallas, Niklas Hagman 9 (Stephane Robidas),
13:10. 3, Dallas, Jere Lehtinen 6 (power play) (Mike Ribeiro, Brenden
Morrow), 15:24. Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (hooking), 6:28; M
Handzus, Los (hooking), 13:46.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Los Angeles 9 7 6 --22
Dallas 4 11 11 --26
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Los Angeles - 0 of 3, Dallas - 1 of 2. Goalies
: Los Angeles, Jason Labarbera (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-6-1).
Dallas, Mike Smith (22 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-3-0). A: 17,208.
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Jonny
Murray.</div>

 

By John Tranchina
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


DALLAS (Ticker) -- Mike Smith had a while to sit and watch, butnow that he's gotten another opportunity, he's made the most ofit.


Making his second consecutive start, the Dallas backupgoaltender stopped all 22 shots he faced to lead the Stars to a3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.


Smith recorded his first shutout of the season and fourth of hiscareer by stopping nine shots in the first, seven in the secondand six in the third period.


Steve Ott, Niklas Hagman and Jere Lehtinen scored for Dallas,which won its second straight.


It was the first meeting between the teams since the Kings'amazing four-goal third-period comeback on November 10 that ledto Stars general manager Doug Armstrong's firing.


Smith, who was pulled after allowing two goals on nine shots injust 14 minutes of a 5-0 loss to Phoenix on November 2, made keysaves on Michael Cammalleri and Ladislav Nagy during a powerplay midway through the third period.


With Los Angeles controlling the play midway through the game,Dallas outshot the Kings, 8-0, over the last six-plus minutes ofthe second period.


Ott scored his second goal of the season with just 1:23remaining in the session.


After Ott won a battle along the boards, the puck went to LouiEriksson at the top of the circles. Eriksson spun and firedtoward the goal, but Ott cut to the net and lunged to deflectthe puck past goaltender Jason LaBarbera.


It was Eriksson's first point in two games since being recalledthe Stars' American Hockey League affiliate in Iowa, and hissecond point in eight games overall this season.


Dallas sealed the game with two goals in the final sevenminutes, as Hagman scored on a breakaway with 6:50 remaining andLehtinen slammed home a one-timer from the slot on a power playwith 4:36 to go.


LaBarbera finished with 23 saves.

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0 0 0 --0
Dallas 0 1 2 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Hagman, Dal (holding), 8:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Dallas, Steve Ott 2 (Loui Eriksson), 18:37.
Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (holding), 5:21; M Handzus, Los
(tripping), 15:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Dallas, Niklas Hagman 9 (Stephane Robidas),
13:10. 3, Dallas, Jere Lehtinen 6 (power play) (Mike Ribeiro, Brenden
Morrow), 15:24. Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (hooking), 6:28; M
Handzus, Los (hooking), 13:46.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Los Angeles 9 7 6 --22
Dallas 4 11 11 --26
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Los Angeles - 0 of 3, Dallas - 1 of 2. Goalies
: Los Angeles, Jason Labarbera (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-6-1).
Dallas, Mike Smith (22 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-3-0). A: 17,208.
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Jonny
Murray.</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES 0 0 0 --0
DALLAS 0 1 2 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Hagman, Dal (holding), 8:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Dallas, Steve Ott 2 (Loui Eriksson), 18:37.
Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (holding), 5:21; M Handzus, Los
(tripping), 15:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Dallas, Niklas Hagman 9 (Stephane Robidas),
13:10. 3, Dallas, Jere Lehtinen 6 (power play) (Mike Ribeiro, Brenden
Morrow), 15:24. Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (hooking), 6:28; M
Handzus, Los (hooking), 13:46.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES 9 7 6 --22
DALLAS 4 11 11 --26
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: LOS - 0 of 3, DAL - 1 of 2. Goalies : Los
Angeles, Jason Labarbera (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-6-1). Dallas,
Mike Smith (22 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-3-0). A: 17,208. Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Jonny Murray.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

LOS ANGELES DALLAS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Kopitar 0 0 even 2 B Morrow 0 1 even 2
P O'Sullivan 0 0 -1 2 J Halpern 0 0 even 2
M Cammalleri 0 0 -1 4 S Barnes 0 0 +1 1
L Visnovsky 0 0 even 3 N Hagman 1 0 +1 1
B Willsie 0 0 even 1 N Grossman 0 0 +2 0
D Brown 0 0 even 2 A Miettinen 0 0 +1 2
A Frolov 0 0 -2 0 L Eriksson 0 1 +1 1
M Handzus 0 0 even 0 J Lehtinen 1 0 even 2
S Thornton 0 0 even 0 S Ott 1 0 +1 1
J Johnson 0 0 even 1 S Robidas 0 1 +2 1
R Blake 0 0 even 0 J Jokinen 0 0 +1 0
T Preissing 0 0 -2 0 P Boucher 0 0 even 2
J Modry 0 0 even 0 M Niskanen 0 0 even 0
L Nagy 0 0 even 2 S Zubov 0 0 even 1
B Stuart 0 0 -2 2 T Daley 0 0 even 1
D Armstrong 0 0 -1 0 M Ribiero 0 1 even 2
M Moulson 0 0 -1 1 C Conner 0 0 even 4
J Zeiler 0 0 even 2 M Modano 0 0 even 3
R Ivanans HEALTHY T Fedoruk HEALTHY
K Dallman HEALTHY K Barch HEALTHY
M Scalzo HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0 0 0 --0
Dallas 0 1 2 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Hagman, Dal (holding), 8:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Dallas, Steve Ott 2 (Loui Eriksson), 18:37.
Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (holding), 5:21; M Handzus, Los
(tripping), 15:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Dallas, Niklas Hagman 9 (Stephane Robidas),
13:10. 3, Dallas, Jere Lehtinen 6 (power play) (Mike Ribeiro, Brenden
Morrow), 15:24. Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (hooking), 6:28; M
Handzus, Los (hooking), 13:46.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Los Angeles 9 7 6 --22
Dallas 4 11 11 --26
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Los Angeles - 0 of 3, Dallas - 1 of 2. Goalies
: Los Angeles, Jason Labarbera (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-6-1).
Dallas, Mike Smith (22 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-3-0). A: 17,208.
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Jonny
Murray.</div>

 

NHL: LOS ANGELES at DALLAS

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES 0 0 0 --0
DALLAS 0 1 2 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Hagman, Dal (holding), 8:07.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Dallas, Steve Ott 2 (Loui Eriksson), 18:37.
Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (holding), 5:21; M Handzus, Los
(tripping), 15:30.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Dallas, Niklas Hagman 9 (Stephane Robidas),
13:10. 3, Dallas, Jere Lehtinen 6 (power play) (Mike Ribeiro, Brenden
Morrow), 15:24. Penalties: M Niskanen, Dal (hooking), 6:28; M
Handzus, Los (hooking), 13:46.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES 9 7 6 --22
DALLAS 4 11 11 --26
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: LOS - 0 of 3, DAL - 1 of 2. Goalies : Los
Angeles, Jason Labarbera (26 shots, 23 saves; record: 4-6-1). Dallas,
Mike Smith (22 shots, 22 saves; record: 4-3-0). A: 17,208. Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Jonny Murray.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

LOS ANGELES DALLAS
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Kopitar 0 0 even 2 B Morrow 0 1 even 2
P O'Sullivan 0 0 -1 2 J Halpern 0 0 even 2
M Cammalleri 0 0 -1 4 S Barnes 0 0 +1 1
L Visnovsky 0 0 even 3 N Hagman 1 0 +1 1
B Willsie 0 0 even 1 N Grossman 0 0 +2 0
D Brown 0 0 even 2 A Miettinen 0 0 +1 2
A Frolov 0 0 -2 0 L Eriksson 0 1 +1 1
M Handzus 0 0 even 0 J Lehtinen 1 0 even 2
S Thornton 0 0 even 0 S Ott 1 0 +1 1
J Johnson 0 0 even 1 S Robidas 0 1 +2 1
R Blake 0 0 even 0 J Jokinen 0 0 +1 0
T Preissing 0 0 -2 0 P Boucher 0 0 even 2
J Modry 0 0 even 0 M Niskanen 0 0 even 0
L Nagy 0 0 even 2 S Zubov 0 0 even 1
B Stuart 0 0 -2 2 T Daley 0 0 even 1
D Armstrong 0 0 -1 0 M Ribiero 0 1 even 2
M Moulson 0 0 -1 1 C Conner 0 0 even 4
J Zeiler 0 0 even 2 M Modano 0 0 even 3
K Dallman HEALTHY T Fedoruk HEALTHY
K Barch HEALTHY</div>

 

By John Tranchina
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


DALLAS (Ticker) -- Mike Smith had a while to sit and watch, butnow that he's gotten another opportunity, he's made the most ofit.


Making his second consecutive start, the backup goaltenderstopped all 22 shots he faced to lead the Dallas Stars to a 3-0victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.


Smith recorded his first shutout of the season and fourth of hiscareer by stopping nine shots in the first, seven in the secondand six in the third period.


"When you're not playing, you tend to lean on stuff that got youwhere you are - and when I did get a chance to get in, I feltpretty good," said Smith, making just his sixth start of theseason. "The team's playing better and we're finding ways towin games and that's the most important thing right now.

"I'm going to enjoy this while I have it here now, andhopefully, we can keep this winning thing going."


Steve Ott, Niklas Hagman and Jere Lehtinen scored for Dallas,which won its second straight.


It was the first meeting between the teams since the Kings'amazing four-goal third-period comeback on November 10 that ledto Stars general manager Doug Armstrong's firing.


"The best part of that game was I thought we got better as itwent along," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "The third periodwas our best, we needed that to win the game. That's the bottomline. I think it's a motivator to make sure it doesn't happenagain. When a team's pushing to come from behind, you're ableto find seams and we were able to do that tonight."

Smith, who was pulled after allowing two goals on nine shots injust 14 minutes of a 5-0 loss to Phoenix on November 2, made keysaves on Michael Cammalleri and Ladislav Nagy during a powerplay midway through the third period.


"I thought that our power play was pretty good," said LosAngeles' Anze Kopitar, who scored the game-winner in overtime inLos Angeles on November 10. "We got in the zone good, we weremoving the puck well, we were shooting pucks, but we justcouldn't get that lucky bounce to put it behind Smith there. Hecertainly played good tonight."


"I haven't played that much in the last few weeks or month andthe team went through some changes there," Smith said."Hopefully I can get in some more games here and we can get both(starter Marty Turco) and me playing really well."

With Los Angeles controlling the play midway through the game,Dallas outshot the Kings, 8-0, over the last six-plus minutes ofthe second period.


Ott scored his second goal of the season with just 1:23remaining in the session.


After Ott won a battle along the boards, the puck went to LouiEriksson at the top of the circles. Eriksson spun and firedtoward the goal, but Ott cut to the net and lunged to deflectthe puck past goaltender Jason LaBarbera.


"He's played well lately, he's really found a little niche,"Tippett said of Ott. "Otter's brought some good energy, littlethings in his game.


"When you get a goal, people notice him. He's physical, he'sbeen doing a good job on the penalty killing for us."

It was Eriksson's first point in two games since being recalledthe Stars' American Hockey League affiliate in Iowa, and hissecond point in eight games overall this season.


Dallas made sure there would be no big comeback this night withtwo goals in the final seven minutes. Hagman scored on abreakaway with 6:50 remaining, ripping a wrist shot overLaBarbera's glove to give them some breathing room.

"This time I figured I'm going to shoot it and I just managed toput it in," Hagman said of his team-leading ninth goal of theseason. "I just had a good feeling when I managed to look upand see where the goalie's standing. I think I saw some spaceover there."


"I guess they scored on their chances and we didn't," saidLaBarbera, who finished with 23 saves. "The breakaway happenedso fast, he just popped in on me like that. I didn't even feellike I had time to get set, but he made a good play."

Then with 4:36 to go, Mike Ribeiro set up behind the Los Angelesnet and fed a slick pass into the slot to Lehtinen, who slammedhome a one-timer on a power play for his sixth goal. The tallyalso extended his career-high point streak to seven games.

"Those are tough plays, especially when you got a guy likeRibeiro back there," LaBarbera said. "He did a good job ofmoving from side to side and making a quick play and Lehtinenshot it right away."


"They got the goal at the end of the second period and then Ithought we did everything we wanted to do," Kings coach MarcCrawford said. "We got lots of chances, their goalie was prettygood, and then we make a mistake, we give up a breakaway. Theywere definitely not going to allow us to come back like we didthe last time we played them."