Stars 2, Blackhawks 1
Kari Lehtonen came within 14 seconds of a shutout while Alex Goligoski and Jamie Benn scored second-period goals as the Dallas Stars opened the 2011-12 season and Glen Gulutzan's coaching tenure with a 2-1 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks in the opener of a home-and-home series Friday.
Lehtonen turned aside nine shots in the first period, 22 in the second and six in the third before Nick Leddy ended his bid for his 18th career shutout. The netminder improved to 4-1 with a 1.58 goals-against average in five career games against Chicago.
The win improved the Stars to 6-2-1 in their last nine meetings with the Blackhawks. The teams face off again Saturday night in Chicago.
Goligoski opened the scoring 59 seconds into the middle period with a slap shot. With just under four minutes remaining in the session, Benn gathered the rebound of Sheldon Souray's blast and backhanded it past Corey Crawford from the doorstep for a 2-0 lead.
Crawford stopped 31 shots for Chicago, which has won just six of its last 28 visits to Dallas.