Stars stop Blackhawks; Hitchcock gets 800th win
DALLAS -- Tyler Seguin scored twice and Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock won his 800th career game in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at American Airlines Center.
Hitchcock became the third coach in NHL history with 800 wins, joining Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville (868) and Scott Bowman (1,244).
Jamie Benn and Antoine Roussel also scored to help Dallas (19-14-3) end a three-game losing streak. Chicago (17-12-5) had a season-long five-game win streak come to an end.
Ben Bishop made 24 saves for his third shutout of the season.
Jamie Benn gave Dallas a 1-0 lead at 17:11 of the first period right after a power play expired. Remi Elie made a sharp pass across the creased to Benn, who easily scored his 15th goal of the season.
Roussel gave Dallas a 2-0 lead 1:07 into the second period on a deflection after a point shot by Dan Hamhuis.
Seguin scored for the first time in eight games and made it 3-0 on the power play at 5:55 of the second period. Seguin controlled a rebound after an initial shot by Jason Spezza and beat Corey Crawford with a backhand.
Seguin scored his second at 16:14 of the period for a 4-0 lead, finishing off a drive to the net by Devin Shore.
Chicago hit the post four times in the loss.
In the first period, Alex Debrincat had a short-side shot hit the left post after a faceoff win in the Stars zone. With 8:15 remaining in the period, Patrick Kane nearly scored after Stars goaltender Ben Bishop bobbled an initial shot, but he hit the post and Bishop recovered.
Brent Seabrook hit the post in the second period on a shot from the slot after Roussel had given Dallas a 2-0 lead. Nick Schmaltz also hit the post in the second period, this time the left one, when Bishop was sprawling.
Crawford made 18 saves and lost in regulation for the first time since Nov. 12.
NOTES: Blackhawks LW Patrick Sharp was a healthy scratch for the first time since the 2005-06 season when he played for the Philadelphia Flyers. ... Brett Ritchie was the lone scratch for Dallas. ... Dallas hosts the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Chicago travels to the New Jersey Devils before the NHL's three-day holiday break.