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Anaheim 4, Dallas 2

Posted: Saturday February 15, 2003 01:03 AM

Anaheim Mighty Ducks Related Info: Team Page City Page: • Anaheim

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DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars have been nearly infallible in 2003, but they have yet to solve Martin Gerber.

Gerber made 26 saves to remain undefeated against Dallas and rookie Alexei Smirnov and Steve Rucchin scored third-period goals to propel the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to their fourth straight victory, 4-2.

After stopping 26 shots in a 1-1 tie against the Stars on January 5, Gerber produced another strong performance, turning aside 10 shots in each of the first two periods before making six saves in the third for just his second NHL victory.

"I can't really tell," Gerber said of his success against Dallas. "We know that we just have to be really sharp against them when we play them. For us, every win is so huge, so it's a big thing to take points out of here from these guys. A win like this against a team like that gives you some good experience."

"Gerbs is a really good goalie and I think he's the best second goalie in the league," Anaheim coach Mike Babcock said. "He could probably start on some teams."

The Ducks, who have won seven of their last eight games, erased a deficit in the second period on tallies by Adam Oates and Petr Sykora. But Ulf Dahlen drew Dallas even early in the third with his 12th goal of the season.

A healthy scratch for three of the previous five contests, Smirnov unleashed a high wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle at 4:42 of the third that beat goaltender Ron Tugnutt to the glove side and put Anaheim ahead for good.

Rucchin added an insurance goal and Paul Kariya chipped in three assists for the Ducks, who improved to 5-17-1 all-time in Dallas and moved ahead of Edmonton for seventh place in the Western Conference.

"It's two points that other teams that are fighting for a playoff spot might not get in this building," Rucchin said. "Anytime you beat an elite team, you're proud with the effort, but it really is just another game when you think about it."

"Every night when you're in a position fighting for a playoff spot like us, you have to play as desperate as you can," Babcock added. "This will help us get back on track and back skating like we can."

Mike Modano scored the other goal and tough guy Aaron Downey collected his first NHL assist for the Stars, who lost for just the second time in their last 21 contests (15-2-4).

"Our whole team has to be better than average," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We gave up two goals on bad changes and one on a 5-on-3. Mistakes really hurt us tonight. They're a desperate team right now and they played really hard tonight."

"We've been getting away with a lot lately," Stars right wing Bill Guerin added. "This is something that's been coming and if we don't get out of it, our luck's going to run out."

Modano, the all-time leading scorer against Anaheim with 61 points in 41 games, added to that total by firing a one-timer from the left circle that beat Gerber to the stick side 74 seconds into the second period, giving Dallas a 1-0 lead.

But on a two-man advantage, Oates took a feed from Kariya at the left side of the net and backhanded a shot that bounced off Tugnutt's left pad and between his legs at 6:47.

"We came out a little cautious but then got going and played solid at the end," Oates said. "Obviously, we knew that they're a good team and you have to show them that respect. We just wanted to work hard the whole game."

Moments after being denied from the right side, Sykora backhanded a shot from the right circle that hit Tugnutt and deflected into the net at 8:55, putting the Ducks ahead.

"I just had a little bit of bad luck out there tonight," said Tugnutt, who got the start for injured All-Star Marty Turco. "I'm not satisfied with it at all, but I've got to take the good stuff and forget about the bad."

Dahlen evened the score 2:40 into the third, grabbing the puck on the left side after Downey's shot went off Gerber's glove and putting it into an open net.

"It hit my glove and then when (Downey) went past me, he hit my leg and I fell and lost my balance and wasn't able to get across," Gerber explained.

Rucchin ended Anaheim's string of 10 one-goal victories, wristing a low shot from the high slot past Tugnutt's to the stick side at 8:08 for his 17th tally.

"I cut to the middle and took a shot that went through their defenseman's legs," Rucchin said. "I think it was a tough pickup for (Tugnutt)."