AP News, February 10th, 2007
Jussi Jokinen scored a power-play goal early in the third period and rookie Mike Smith stopped 32 shots for his third shutout as the Dallas Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks 1-0 on Saturday.
With Anaheim's Travis Moen in the penalty box for interference, Dallas' Sergei Zubov connected with Jokinen on a long lead pass. Jokinen skated through two defenders and beat Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere at 4:13 for his 11th goal of the season.
The Stars (7-2-1 in their past 10 games) improved to 68 points, moving them within six of the first-place Ducks in the Pacific Division.
Dallas stopped all six Anaheim power plays.
Giguere made 20 saves for the Ducks, 3-6-1 in their past 10 games.
Smith, who got the start in place of No. 1 goaltender Marty Turco, made sliding saves on scoring chances by Moen and Todd Marchant in the first five minutes of the third period to preserve the shutout.
Turco had taken the loss in Dallas' past three meetings with Anaheim this season.
Smith, who recently received a two-year contract extension, was making his first start since Dec. 14 against the New York Rangers.
The Ducks tested Smith early, but Smith stopped Andy McDonald on a rush 3:30 into the game and made a sliding save to deny Samuel Pahlsson from close range about 5 minutes later.
Out for the Stars with injuries were forwards Brenden Morrow (wrist), Antti Miettinen (lower body), Steve Ott (ankle) and Matthew Barnaby (concussion).
Notes:@ The game's only fight broke out 35 seconds after the opening faceoff when Dallas' Krys Barch and Anaheim's Shawn Thornton traded punches. The Ducks lead the league with 54 fights while the Stars have been involved in 27. ...The Stars were playing the first of rare back-to-back afternoon games. They host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. ...The Ducks opened a four-game road trip. ...Dallas C Eric Lindros hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 20. ...Anaheim D Sean O'Donnell was back in the lineup after missing a game with the flu. ...Giguere had been 14-3 in his previous 18 starts. ...The Ducks are 0-for-16 on the power play in the past four games.
