Stars Light Up Oilers 3-2

The Edmonton Oilers began hitting early and then often, but it wasn't enough to beat the disciplined and opportunistic Dallas Stars.

The Stars took a 2-0 series playoff lead with a 3-2 victory on Friday night.

Jere Lehtinen and Guy Carbonneau both scored for the second game in a row in a series that has been marked by aggressive physical play. But in spite of absorbing dozens of hits from the Oilers, the Stars emerged with the victory in Game 2.

The series switches to Edmonton for the next two games on Sunday and Tuesday.

"We don't retaliate after we get hit. We absorb the hit and don't get caught up in all their mind games," Stars center Mike Modano said. "We try not to take undisciplined penalties that could cost us the power play."

Even though penalties cost Edmonton six power plays and left the Oilers at least a man down for 11:15 of the first, Dallas' weak power play didn't succeed.

The Oilers put themselves back on their heels by spending much of the game in the penalty box.

Edmonton went 0-for-3 on the man advantage as well, to keep both power plays scoreless for the series.

Jamie Langenbrunnner scored the game-winner for his first of the playoffs. His goal at 14:22 of the third period made it 3-1, before Edmonton's Doug Weight scored his first of the series with 3:11 left to play to make it a one-goal game again.

Dallas Coach Ken Hitchcock was pleased with the victory, but said his team wasn't as strong as it will need to be.

"I think were playing all right ... but the whole group has to bring it up to another level if we are going to keep winning."

Both goaltenders were strong, with Edmonton's Tommy Salo stopping 31 shots and Dallas' Ed Belfour turning away 17. Dallas outshot the Oilers 34-19.

"I thought Tommy was great, he gave us a chance to win the game and that's all you can ask of your goalie," Edmonon coach Ron Low said.

But Salo couldn't solve Lehtinen or Carbonneu for the second straight game. Carbonneau, who at 39 is the oldest skater on any team in the playoffs, scored his second of the playoffs just 2:34 into the game, two seconds after a penalty to the Oilers' Bill Guerin expired.

Carbonneau spun and snapped a wrist shot past Salo from the slot after taking a feed from Dave Reid and fending off a hook by Rem Murray. On Wednesday, Carbonneau scored the game winner to give Dallas a 2-1 victory.

The Stars were unable to capitalize on a 1:32 two-man advantage that came at 10:13 of the first on penalties to Murray and Chad Kilger. Salo turned away two strong one-timers from Brett Hull to keep it 1-0.

Both goaltenders turned away several strong chances to keep it scoreless for the next 48:54, until Edmonton's Mike Grier stuffed a wraparound chance behind Belfour at 11:28 of the third to tie the game.

Dallas rebounded quickly, when Lehtinen scored on a rebound from in front 1:48 later.

Edmonton got a little spark but no points from the early return of their leading scorer, Guerin, who wasn't expected back from a knee injury until Sunday. He was injured April 12 against San Jose.

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