Lehtinen, Stars Light It Up

Despite a slow start, the Dallas Stars finished with their highest scoring output of the season.

Jere Lehtinen scored two of the Stars' five goals in the second period, as Dallas beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 Sunday night.

"The second period was the best period we've played all year," Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We were on our heels in the first period. It seemed like every chance we had (in the second), we scored."

Sergei Zubov, Grant Marshall and Dave Reid scored the other goals for Dallas (14-5-3) in the second, chasing Edmonton goalie Bob Essensa.

"We've always been strong about bouncing back," said Dallas' Mike Modano, who accepted part of the blame for the Stars' 4-1 loss Saturday night in Vancouver.

Lehtinen opened the scoring just 19 seconds into the second, shoveling a rebound past Essensa. Zubov made it 2-0 with a power-play goal 9:34 into the period, and Marshall followed with his score 23 seconds later.

"I don't think you can beat Dallas without playing 60 minutes," Oilers coach Ron Low said. "I thought we were dormant in the second period. We had some great chances in the first. After that, we died."

Lehtinen's eighth goal of the season at the 14:05 mark and Reid's first 18 seconds later made it 5-0, as Mikhail Shtalenkov replaced Essensa.

"Bobby had a tough night," Low said. "I should have replaced him after the third goal."

Mike Grier and Bill Guerin scored for the Oilers (13-11-1) in the third. Grier's score was the first shorthanded goal against Dallas this season.

Brian Skrudland scored the final goal for the Stars, whose previous high was in a 5-1 victory over Detroit on Nov. 13.

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