Stars Clinch NHL's Best Record

The Dallas Stars are on top of their game and on top of the NHL.

0 `Boe Nieuwendyk had a goal and an assist as Dallas clinched the NHL's best record and set a franchise mark for points in a season with a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Friday night.

The Stars improved to 110 points, assuring Dallas the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs for the second straight season.

Last season, the Stars were knocked out of the playoffs in the Western Conference finals by the eventual champion Detroit Red Wings.

Bring on the pressure, says Stars coach Ken Hitchcock.

"I think there's a tendency to downgrade the Presidents' Trophy because there seems to be such a burden that goes along with it," Hitchcock said. "But I prefer to look at it as a reward for seven months of tremendous effort. We're glad to be right where we're at."

Dallas surpassed last season's 109 points, the previous franchise record. The Stars also set a club record with their 27th home victory, beating the mark set in three different seasons, including last year, and tied the team record with their 49th victory.

"It's nice to get it out of the way," Nieuwendyk said. "It shows our team played hard night in and night out. I think that's what the rest of the league says about us."

The Presidents' Trophy will be presented to the Stars before Sunday afternoon's home game against the Los Angeles Kings.

"It's huge," said Stars goalie Ed Belfour. "It shows we've worked hard all season. Getting home ice was a goal of ours at the start of the season, and it's a real positive for us."

Mike Keane and Dave Reid also had goals for the Stars.

The Rangers had little to play for, having been eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race earlier this week.

The game could have been Wayne Gretzky's final appearance at Reunion rena. The league's all-time scoring leader did not figure in the scoring, but he received an ovation from the sellout crowd when he was shown on the scoreboard midway through the third period.

Gretzky has said he would wait until after the season to decide about his future in hockey.

Asked after the game about his impressions of the Stars and their chances to win the Stanley Cup, Gretzky said, "They're as good as anybody in the league. Their record and their work ethic back that. They have solid defensive play, good goaltending, and a few great players to take them to another level. They have all the right ingredients."

Belfour was in control until Mike Knuble ended his bid for his 46th career shutout early in the third period. Knuble's 15th goal from a sharp angle narrowed Dallas' lead to 3-1 with 16:46 to play.

Keane, a former Ranger, scored his fifth from the slot 15 seconds after the opening faceoff. Dallas made it 2-0 at 13:36 of the first period on Reid's sixth, a power-play rebound.

The Stars extended their advantage to 3-0 at 2:24 of the second period when Nieuwendyk converted a centering pass from Benoit Hogue for his 25th goal. Dallas dominated the second period, outshooting the Rangers 15-4.

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