Kings 3, Stars 0

Thursday December 12, 2002

DALLAS (AP) The Los Angeles Kings beat the Dallas Stars at their own game.

The Kings ended the Stars' season-opening home unbeaten streak at 13 games Wednesday night, getting a goal and two assists from each member of their top line of Jason Allison, Adam Deadmarsh and Ziggy Palffy in a 3-0 victory.

Dallas entered the game 10-0-2-1 at home.

``Tonight was the bottom of the barrel,'' Stars defenseman Darryl Sydor said. ``We backed off and they came out and outworked us. That's not the way we've been playing. We're nothing special if we don't work hard.''

Kings goalie Jamie Storr got his 14th career shutout and extended the Kings' shutout streak to 120 minutes, 19 seconds.

``It was an exciting game to play,'' said Storr, who finished with 35 saves. ``When you play against a great team, you have to be on top of your game.''

Allison and Deadmarsh have returned from injuries within the last week, giving the Kings a potent trio that has 26 points in its last six games.

``Everybody's healthy,'' Palffy said. ``Getting those guys back (Allison and Deadmarsh) is a big help. They're two of our leaders.''

Dallas had earned at least a point in each of its first 13 home games, going 10-0-2-1. The Stars had an overtime loss to Florida and ties with the New York Rangers and Detroit.

The Kings shut out the Stars for the second time in as many meetings this season and third straight overall.

Storr, making his sixth appearance of the season while starter Felix Potvin got the night off, faced 13 shots in each of the last two periods. He stopped Mike Modano with a glove save on a breakaway with 16:26 to play and won for only the second time this season (2-3-1).

``I guess I was in the right place at the right time,'' said Storr of the stop on Modano. ``He made a great shot, but luckily I had the glove in the right position.''

Potvin got his 28th career shutout Tuesday night, a 3-0 victory at Nashville.

The Kings scored on three of their first eight shots against Marty Turco, who began the night as the league leader in goals-against average and save percentage. Turco was lifted midway through the second period.

``This was a flat effort and a disappointing way for (the home streak) to end,'' Turco said. ``I guess we expected we could just show up. We need to realize that it takes hard work.''

Stars coach Dave Tippett was an assistant for the Kings last season, and he was facing his former team on Dallas ice for the first time. The Kings were 2-0 winners in Los Angeles on Nov. 23.

Deadmarsh beat Turco from the right circle on the Kings' first shot 6:43 after the opening faceoff. It was Deadmarsh's 12th goal.

Allison converted a two-on-one pass from Deadmarsh for his fifth goal and a 2-0 advantage at 2:28 of the second period. Palffy notched his ninth goal, from the slot on a power play at 9:21 of the second period.

Tippett replaced Turco with backup Ron Tugnutt at 10:12 of the second period.< ^Notes:@ Palffy has three of the Kings' five goals against the Stars this season. ... Stars RW Scott Young became the 183rd player in NHL history to play in 1,000 games. He is the 17th American-born player to reach the milestone. ... Dallas was the last NHL team to be unbeaten at home in regulation. ... The Stars were coming off a four-day break.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)