Hawks left seeing Stars Domination by Dallas snaps unbeaten streak; Fleury's temper flares

Stars 5

Blackhawks 0

After a successful New York road trip in which the Hawks went 2-0-1 in a four-night span, they came out flat against the WesternConference-leading Stars. Getting only 16 shots on goal againstDallas goaltender Marty Turco, the Hawks saw their four-game unbeatenstreak halted in the first game of a five-game homestand.

Fleury's outburst came with the Hawks trailing 2-0 late in thesecond period. He and the Stars' Philippe Boucher crashed into theboards together, then tumbled over each other with no penalty beingcalled.

Fleury protested the non-call, then smashed his stick as he leftthe ice. The stick broke in half, and Fleury was sent to the penaltybox for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Though Dallas scored with three seconds left on the ensuing powerplay, Hawks coach Brian Sutter had no complaints about Fleury'sactions.

"It was a game where we needed a little more from a lot ofpeople," Sutter said. "I wish there was some more emotion tonight.Theo probably had more hits than our whole team put together. I wishwe had three or four more like him."

Fleury's penalty was costly, but it hardly determined the outcomeof the game. There were many more significant shortcomings.

"He [Turco] didn't have to make too many big saves," Fleury said."I don't know if it was our [lack of] effort or that we just got awayfrom what we need to do to be successful. It was a situation where wehad gotten 30 shots three games in a row, then came out and got [lessthan] 20. It doesn't make sense."

"We should be better, especially in our building," captain AlexZhamnov said. "Everybody's disappointed. We didn't play our game.That's the bottom line."

The Hawks' troubles started with Dallas' Darryl Sydor scoring on afirst-period shot from just inside the blue line. Hawks goaltenderJocelyn Thibault was screened by teammate Jon Klemm when Sydor's shotgot by him. It was Sydor's first goal in 25 games.

Pierre Turgeon, who has had lots of success against the Hawks (55points in 45 games), set himself up for the second goal early in thesecond period. He passed from behind the net to Jason Arnott, thenretrieved the rebound of Arnott's shot off Thibault's pads and scoredfrom a difficult angle.

Fleury's tantrum set the stage for the Stars' three-goal outburstin the third period. Sergei Zubov scored on a shot from the blue lineas the carry-over power play was ending. Former Hawk Aaron Downeyscored 1:34 later.

Jere Lehtinen completed the scoring while the Stars were moreconcerned about protecting Turco's sixth shutout of the season.

"I don't think Joc saw three of those pucks [goals]," Sutter said."They weren't classic, picture-perfect goals."

But they did the job.

Turco improved his career record to 4-0 against the Hawks, whowere blanked for the second time this season (they lost 1-0 atColorado on Nov. 25). Sunday's shutout was their first on home iceand their worst beating of the season.

The Vancouver Canucks, the Stars' top challenger in the WesternConference, visit the United Center on Tuesday.