Canadian Press
4/13/2007 11:59:42 PM
VANCOUVER (CP) - Jeff Halpern and Joel Lundqvist scored quick goals in the first two periods while Marty Turco made 35 saves as the Dallas Stars defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 Friday to even their NHL opening round playoff series.
Halpern's goal came just 24 seconds into the contest while Lundqvist scored 45 seconds into the second period.
The shutout was Turco's first in 24 career playoff games.
Stu Barnes collected two assists as the Stars disappointed a sellout crowd of 18,630.
Canuck goaltender Roberto Luongo made 25 saves.
The best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final now moves to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday.
Neither team seemed to show the affects of Wednesday's marathon 5-4 game which the Canucks won in quadruple overtime.
Dallas played with more jump and an intensity Vancouver lacked. The Stars moved the puck with authority and always seemed to have a player open for a pass or ready to ride a Canuck out of the play.
Markus Naslund might have been the best Canuck on the ice. He played with a urgency many of his teammates didn't have, making hits and going after the puck.
Vancouver didn't get a shot on net until 6:40 of the first. The Canucks best scoring chance of the first two periods came when Jan Bulis rang a shot off the post during a power play.
While Turco was steady he wasn't forced to make many stellar saves. His best came when he blocked Daniel Sedin on his doorstep, then got in front of a Willie Mitchell shot, both in the third.
Halpern's goal came on Dallas's first shot. Defenceman Sergei Zubov fired a shot from the point that Halpern deflected past a surprised Luongo.
Dallas struck early again in the second period. Mike Modano slid a perfect backhand pass to a charging Lundqvist who beat Luongo on the short side.
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Turco, Stars blank Canucks; even series
Turco, Stars blank Canucks; even series
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