Stars Shine Against Coyotes

Derian Hatcher and the Dallas Stars seem to enjoy playing in Phoenix.

Hatcher had three assists and Brett Hull scored twice in the Stars' 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.

The victory, which snapped a two-game losing streak, was the Stars' first in three tries (1-1-1) against the Coyotes this season. But Dallas improved its record to 4-0-1 in its last five games in Phoenix dating to last season.

"They beat us at home quite a bit, too," Hatcher said. "We come in here and want to play our game. I can't really put my finger on it. It's just part of the game."

Jamie Langenbrunner, Brenden Morrow and Roman Lyashenko also scored for Dallas, which is 4-0-1 in its last five games in Phoenix. Landon Wilson and Wyatt Smith scored for Phoenix.

"There's a lot of stuff going on," Hatcher said. "When we're playing Phoenix, it's a bit of a rivalry. When you're going against (Keith) Tkachuk and (Jeremy) Roenick, they're going to hit you and you're going to hit them. You've got to be ready for it and that ups your game a little bit."

Tkachuk isn't concerned about the Stars' success in Phoenix. He is more worried about how the Coyotes, losers of five of their last seven games, are playing.

"We felt we came out in the first 10 minutes of the first period and really controlled the game," Tkachuk said, "and obviously they got a couple of power-play goals. We still gave ourselves a chance to battle back.

"Right now, the focus should be on the top six forwards of our hockey tea just not getting it done."

Langenbrunner opened the scoring 13:41 into the game on a power play. Hatcher fired a shot from the left point and Langenbrunner tipped it past Phoenix goaltender Robert Esche.

Morrow made it 2-0, scoring off a rebound of Hatcher's shot just 1:07 later.

The Stars went up 3-0 with 35 seconds left in the first period. Hull flipped a shot from below the right circle. Esche stopped it but gave up the rebound to Lyashenko, who had an easy score.

Hull got his first goal at 8:13 of the second period, scoring on a wrister that went through Eshe's pads.

Phoenix finally scored at 12:45 of the second period on a drive by Wilson. The Coyotes made it 4-2 at 15:50 of the second. Smith picked up a loose puck at the red line and beat Stars' goalie Ed Belfour from the right circle on the move for a short-hander.

Hull closed out the scoring with a goal at 2:46 of the third period, his 15th of the season.

"He gives this team what it definitely was missing," Hatcher said. "He's a pure goal scorer, no matter which way you slice it. He's the best one-timer in the darn league."

Esche, coming off a shutout victory over Minnesota, played in his second straight game.

The Coyotes played without third-leading scorer Shane Doan, who suffered a hyperextended knee Wednesday night against Minnesota. He is listed as day to day.

Notes