Morrow Leads Stars to Victory

[April 04, 2008]  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Brenden Morrow scored and added an assist to lead the Dallas Stars past Phoenix 4-2 Thursday night in the Coyotes' home finale.

Matt Niskanen, Stephane Robidas and Mike Modano also scored for the Stars, who won for just the third time in 12 games (3-7-2) and secured no worse than fifth place in the Western Conference standings.

Dallas will face fourth-place Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs, though the Stars still could catch the Ducks and gain home ice.

Enver Lisin and Keith Ballard scored for the Coyotes, who lost for the eighth time in nine games (1-7-1).

After a scoreless first period, Dallas scored three goals in the second.

Niskanen gave the Stars a 1-0 lead when he one-timed a pass from Philippe Boucher past Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov at 5:22 of the second.

Robidas made it 2-0, also on a one-timer off a pass from Joel Lundqvist, at 13:03 of the period. Morrow then stole the puck from Coyotes defenseman Keith Ballard in the Phoenix zone and beat Bryzgalov at 19:00 of the period.

Phoenix rallied late in the third period. Lisin scored on a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle with 6:09 left to end Johan Holmqvist's shutout bid. Ballard cut the lead to 3-2 with 3:01 to go, scoring from between the circles for a short-handed goal.

Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky pulled Bryzgalov for an extra attacker with 1:21 remaining, but Modano intercepted a pass from Phoenix defenseman Ed Jovanovski and scored into the empty net.

Holmqvist, acquired in a deadline deal from Tampa Bay, made 21 saves for his 21st victory of the season and his first with the Stars.

Notes: The Coyotes finished 17-20-4 at home, one of just three teams with a losing record on home ice. ... Boucher's assist was the 200th of his career. ... The Stars have outscored their opponents by 40 goals in the second period, the best mark in the league. ... Phoenix left wing Daniel Carcillo got into two third-period fights to raise his league-leading penalty minute total to 320 in just 55 games. In the first, Carcillo dropped Stars left wing Krystofer Barch with one punch. ... Dallas finished 22-14-5 on the road, tied for the fourth-best mark in franchise history. ... Coyotes center Kyle Turris, who had 11 goals in 36 games for the University of Wisconsin this season, made his NHL debut and earned a 2-minute minor for delay of game.

[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]

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