Stars Beat Avs In Shootout, 3-2
04/09/09 - 09:41 PM
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(AP) Mike Ribeiro resorted to some trickery in the final shootout attempt, skating in backward and then flipping a shot into the net off Peter Budaj to lift the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.

After Matt Climie stopped T.J. Hensick’s try, Ribeiro glided toward Budaj, suddenly turned backward, passed the puck to himself between his legs and then shot it at Budaj, the puck bounding high into the air before trickling in.

Fabian Brunnstrom and James Neal also scored in the shootout for the Stars, while Wojtek Wolski and Milan Hejduk countered for Colorado.

Brunnstrom and Steve Begin scored in regulation for Dallas. Chris Stewart and John-Michael Liles also had goals for Colorado.

With one hand on his stick, Begin poked a shot past Budaj to give the Stars a 2-1 lead late in the final period. However, Liles scored 52 seconds later, banking in a shot off the pads of Climie.

It was a matchup of two teams with nothing at stake as Dallas and Colorado, both perennial postseason participants, will be sitting on the sidelines when the playoffs begin.

The Stars trailed 1-0 heading into the final period, but Brunnstrom scored a power-play goal when he slid a shot past Budaj on a pinpoint pass from Loui Eriksson.

Stewart’s 11th goal of the season came midway through the second period as he tipped Raymond Macias’ slap shot from the blue line by Matt Climie.

The power-play goal soothed an otherwise frustrating period for the Avalanche, who had no fewer than four solid scoring chances. Cody McCormick had the best opportunity, but fanned on a point-blank shot with Climie behind the net having just coughed up the puck.

Per Ledin made his NHL debut, the 11th player to do so this season for the injury-riddled Avalanche. The New York Islanders are the only team to have had more players (12) kick off their careers in 2008-09.

Marek Svatos became the latest member of Colorado’s ever-expanding ailment list, sitting out with a finger injury. The forward was one of eight regulars missing from the lineup.

However, Avalanche defensemen Adam Foote (head injury), Brett Clark (hand) and Ruslan Salei (knee) all skated with the team Thursday morning and coach Tony Granato wouldn’t rule out their return to the ice before the end of the season.

Same with captain Joe Sakic, who met with team doctors Thursday to see if he could be cleared for action. Sakic has missed the last 58 games with back and hand injuries.

The 39-year-old Sakic has yet to decide if he’ll be back next year for a 21st season.

Colorado won’t receive any sympathy from the Stars as far as injuries are concerned. Dallas is among the NHL leaders in man-games lost, ranking fourth heading into the game Thursday night.

Dallas was without defenseman Trevor Daley, who didn’t make the trip due to a knee injury.

Game notes
Colorado F Ian Laperriere played in his 999th career game Thursday night. ... Climie finished with 25 saves as he filled in for Marty Turco. ... Budaj had 37 saves.

Courtesy 2009 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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