DALLAS (Ticker) -- Ilya Bryzgalov appears to have the number of
the Dallas Stars.
Bryzgalov made 33 saves and Enver Lisin scored early in the
second period as the Phoenix Coyotes halted their six-game
losing streak Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over the Stars.
Defenseman Ken Klee and Daniel Winnik each notched an assist for
the Coyotes, who also ended a four-game road skid in improving
to 3-1-1 against the Stars this season and 5-1-1 in their last
seven visits to Dallas.
Bryzgalov turned aside eight shots in both the first and third
periods while stopping 17 in the middle session for his third
shutout of the season and eighth career. The Russian also
blanked Dallas on January 10, when he produced a 38-save
performance in a 1-0 shootout triumph.
Marty Turco stopped 28 shots for the Stars, who lost in
regulation for just the second time in their last 14 home games
(11-2-1). In making his 24th consecutive start, Turco set the
franchise record previously held by Cesare Maniago, who started
23 games in a row for the Minnesota North Stars in 1968-69.
Phoenix had been winless since posting a 6-3 victory over the
Detroit Red Wings on January 20. During its six-game slide,
which included a pair of shutouts, the club scored a total of 10
goals.
The offensive struggles continued in this one as the Coyotes
were kept off the scoresheet in the first period despite
outshooting the Stars by an 11-8 margin. But they broke through
for the only goal Bryzgalov needed in the early stages of the
middle session.
After receiving a pass from Klee at Dallas' blue line, Lisin
skated down the right wing and cut toward the net, using an
official as a screen in order to get ahead of defenseman Darryl
Sydor. From the doorstep, the 22-year-old Russian beat Turco to
the stick side with a wrist shot at 2:19 for his ninth goal of
the season and a 1-0 lead.
The Stars held the advantage in shots in the middle session,
17-8, but were unable to get the equalizer past Bryzgalov. The
club registered four in a 10-second span with 5 1/2 minutes left
in the period, all of which were denied.
Mike Modano had Dallas' best opportunity in the second but was
stopped on a breakaway at 9:14. The veteran also had a glorious
chance from the doorstep as time was winding down in the third,
but Bryzgalov made the save with 27 seconds remaining.