ANOTHER HARD LESSON LEARNED

The Dallas Stars have made beating the Chicago Blackhawks look automatic and easy.

Jason Arnott scored twice and Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow each had a goal and two assists as Dallas extended its unbeaten streak against Chicago to 13 games with a 7-2 win over the Blackhawks on Sunday night.

The Stars haven't lost to Chicago since Jan. 20, 2002, going 11-0-2 against the Blackhawks during the span. Dallas is 3-0 against the Blackhawks this season, outscoring them 21-6.

"I think we've gotten some timely goals, and the pucks have gone in for us," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "I don't know, I think we've played better games against other teams and not scored as many. I think it's a fluke thing that we've been able to capitalize on as many chances as we have."

A key for the Stars throughout the streak was getting an early lead against the Blackhawks. Dallas led 2-0 on Sunday just 5:59 in.

"In the three games this season we've had very good starts." Lehtinen said. "That helps a lot. I don't know why against them and not against other teams, but sometimes it happens."

Jussi Jokinen, Niklas Hagman and Martin Skoula also scored for the Stars, who have won two straight after dropping three in a row.

Marty Turco made 18 saves and improved to 10-0-1 against Chicago.

"We've enjoyed playing here and the success we've had here," Turco said. "Probably why it's lasted so long is we try not to take anyone for granted.

"There will be a day when it doesn't go my way, but until then I'll enjoy it."

Mark Bell and Rene Bourque scored power-play goals for Chicago, which has lost five of six.

"They've got some older guys over there who have been around and won," Bell said. "They play well as a group and they're firing on all cylinders now."

Chicago coach Trent Yawney also was impressed with the Stars.

"You might be witnessing, maybe, the team that might be in the Stanley Cup finals," he said.

Rookie goalie Adam Munro started for the Blackhawks but was replaced by Craig Anderson at 4:52 of the second after allowing three goals on 11 shots. Anderson gave up four goals on 17 shots.

The Stars scored on two of their first three shots. Jokinen fired a 20-foot backhander over Munro's right shoulder at 4:44. Hagman made it 2-0 just 1:15 later when he was left uncovered in the slot and swept in Sergei Zubov's feed from behind the net.

Skoula's power-play goal at 4:52 of the second stretched the lead to 3-0. He beat Munro on the glove side from just inside the blue line on Dallas' 11th shot.

Anderson replaced Munro after the goal.

Bell cut it to 3-1 at 7:58 with his 20th goal, scored on a 5-on-3 power-play. He ripped a high shot past Turco from inside the left point.

Lehtinen was credited with making it 4-1 at 10:16 when his shot from the right-wing boards deflected in off the stick of Chicago rookie defenseman Duncan Keith.

Morrow made it 5-1 at 6:11 with his 20th goal. He pounced on a loose puck just outside the crease. Arnott gave the Stars a five-goal lead with 7:59 left.

Bourque's power-play goal made it 6-2 just 1:32 later. Arnott's 5-on-3 power-play goal with 4:39 remaining completed the scoring.

HOME