Canucks Rally Past Stars

Vancouver goalie Corey Hirsch didn't expect such any easy shutout against the team with the NHL's best record.

Hirsch faced only 13 shots, including two in the final period, as the Canucks snapped an eight-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars.

"I don't think I've faced that few shots since I started in Vancouver," said Hirsch, whose shutout was his first of the season and fourth of his five-year NHL career. "It's fabulous. The guys were great right from the start. We really stuck it to them. It's probably the best game we've played all year."

Dave Scatchard and Harry York scored third-period goals as the Canucks ended an 0-7-1 skid and became the only team to beat Dallas twice this season.

"It might not have been that exciting to watch, but for us it was a good solid win," said Hirsch, a backup goalie who has started three of the last four games.

Trent Klatt set up Scatchard's goal when he rushed up the left wing and got a shot off on Dallas goalie Roman Turek. Klatt then chipped a bouncing puck over Turek's shoulder and into the crease, where Stars defenseman Richard Matvichuk stopped it from crossing the goal line. However, Scatchard shoved the puck into the net to put the Canucks up 1-0 with 7:55 left in the game.

Scatchard didn't think he would get to the puck in time.

"I took four whacks at it and it finally went in. It's just an unbelievable feeling," he said.

Harry York made it 2-0 three minutes later when he was set up alone in front by Alexander Mogilny.

The Stars (25-7-6) have now been shut out two straight times following a 15-game unbeaten streak. In fact, they've been blanked in four of their seven losses this season.

"When we don't score, we don't score. It's funny," said Mike Modano, Dallas' leading scorer. "We've had some difficulty some games. When we're in a rut, we're in a deep rut."

The Stars, who entered the game with the league's second-best power-play percentage, went 0-for-5 with the man-advantage against Vancouver.

"I think the difference in the game wasn't the skilled people. I thought the difference in the game was the grinders," said Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who stormed off after answering only a few questions. "I thought they're grinders, especially up front, were better than our guys."

The Stars' best scoring chance came when defenseman Darryl Sydor missed an open net during a power-play opportunity late in the first period.

Hirsch came up big midway through the third period. He stopped Jere Lehtinen, who was set up for a one-timer in front, and seconds later made a pad save on Brett Hull's slap shot from the right circle.

Dallas goalie Roman Turek, who faced 20 shots, got his first loss of the season as his record fell to 6-1-2.

Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk, who's had surgery on both his knees, left the game with an inflamed nee after the first period and did not return.

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