Stars Down Blackhawks, NHL News

Patrick Eaves and the Dallas Stars put together an impressive response to their ugly home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

One strong start did the trick. Eaves scored three of Dallas' four goals in the first period, and the Stars beat the Blackhawks 4-2 on Thursday night.

"It was just good to get a nice start. I think that was the biggest thing," Eaves said. "We got spanked on Saturday, so that was still fresh in our mouth."

Eaves' second career hat trick helped Dallas to its fifth win in six games and moved the Stars within one of the Blackhawks for the most points in the Western Conference. Dallas' lone loss during the strong stretch was a 5-1 rout for visiting Chicago on Saturday night.

"We were ourselves tonight," said Tyler Seguin, who had two assists. "Obviously I think they handed it to us last game."

John Klingberg added a goal and an assist for Dallas. Kari Lehtonen made 19 of his 44 saves in the third period, including a point-blank stop on Andrew Shaw with Chicago threatening to pull within one with about eight minutes left.

Thursday' February 11 Scoreboard

NY Islanders 5, Los Angeles 2

Philadelphia 5, Buffalo 1

Columbus 4, Anaheim 3 (SO)

Colorado 4, Ottawa 3

Washington 4, Minnesota 3

Boston 6, Winnipeg 2

Dallas 4, Chicago 2

Edmonton 5, Toronto 2

Calgary 6, San Jose 5 (SO)

Friday, February 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Montreal at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at NY Rangers, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Carolina, 6 p.m.

Colorado at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Nashville at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Florida, 6:30 p.m.

Calgary at Arizona, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

New Jersey at Philadelphia, noon

Boston at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Nashville at Florida, 6 p.m

NY Islanders at Carolina, 6 p.m.

Ottawa at Columbus, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Vancouver, 6 p.m.

Washington at Dallas, 7 p.m.

Anaheim at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Arizona at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.    

Sunday, February 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Colorado at Buffalo, 11:30 a.m.

Los Angeles at New Jersey, 11:30 a.m.

Boston at Detroit, 2:30 p.m.

St. Louis at Tampa Bay, 5 p.m.

Philadelphia at NY Rangers, 6:30 p.m.