Stars, Lehtonen shut out Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves as the Dallas Stars defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 on Saturday night at PNC Arena, severely damaging Carolina's late-season bid to make the playoffs.
The outcome ended Carolina's franchise-record 13 game points streak (9-0-4).
Jason Spezza scored in the second period to help Dallas avoid what would have been its second three-game losing streak in the last 25 days. John Klingberg and Devin Shore added empty-net goals in a 22-second span as the Stars won their sixth straight over Carolina.
With Boston winning 5-2 earlier Saturday at home to the Florida Panthers, it left the Hurricanes six points behind the Bruins with five games remaining for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Carolina goalie Cam Ward stopped 21 shots.
Spezza scored on a wrist shot 4:46 into the second period as Dallas took a 1-0 lead. It was his first goal since March 8 and his first point in four games.
Carolina had only 12 shots through two periods.
The Hurricanes had the best scoring chance in the first period, with a line change catching the Stars off guard but were unable to convert.
Later in the period, Ward snuffed an attempt from Tyler Seguin. Through 20 minutes, Carolina held a 7-6 edge in shots.
NOTES: G Eddie Lack was back on the active roster as the backup Saturday night after he left the ice on a stretcher Monday night with a neck strain suffered in an overtime loss to Detroit. With that move, the Hurricanes sent G Alex Nedeljkovic back to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. ... Dallas was without LW Curtis McKenzie, who suffered a deep gash just above his right eye Thursday in Boston. He was sent to Dallas and didn't accompany the team to Raleigh. ... The Stars added C Gemel Smith and C Justin Dowling from Texas of the American Hockey League. ... Dallas won the other meeting with Carolina this season 5-2 on Feb. 11 at home. ... Carolina was coming off a 25-point March, marking the second-most points in any month in franchise history. ... The Hurricanes visit Pittsburgh on Sunday. ... Dallas plays its final road game of the season Sunday in Tampa Bay.