Stars 4, Blues 1
Captain Jamie Benn registered his first career hat trick as visiting Dallas posted its fourth victory in five games.
Cody Eakin also scored and Jason Spezza collected three assists as the Stars extended their winning streak in St. Louis to four games. Kari Lehtonen came with 7 1/2 minutes of his second straight shutout but turned aside 27 shots to win his fourth start in a row.
Patrik Berglund netted a third-period goal for the Blues, who had their three-game winning streak snapped and dropped six points behind Central Division-leading Nashville. Brian Elliott allowed three goals on six shots before giving way to Jake Allen, who finished with 15 saves.
The Stars broke on top 2:47 into the contest as Benn gained control at the right point off a faceoff, skated into the slot and unleashed a blistering shot that beat Elliott low to the blocker side. Benn doubled the lead at the 8:18 mark, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with Spezza, before Eakin swooped in and buried a rebound 20 seconds later to end Elliott's night.
Benn, who had 17 two-goal performances in his career, finally got his hat trick on the power play 3 1/2 minutes into the third, beating a screened Allen from just inside the top of the right faceoff circle. Berglund spoiled Lehtonen's shutout bid by halting an 11-game goalless drought at 12:30 of the session.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Benn surpassed 20 goals for the fifth time in his six NHL seasons with his 20th, 21st and 22nd tallies. ... Blues D Barret Jackman appeared in his 780th game, passing Brian Sutter for second place on the franchise list. ... Spezza, elevated to the top line due to the injury to leading scorer Tyler Seguin, has notched 18 points in his last 15 games.