COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Vinny Prospal scored from a hard angle at 1:22 of the third, and Sergei Bobrovsky had 24 saves to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Monday night, ending a four-game losing streak.
It was the Blue Jackets' first victory since opening night in Nashville in a shootout. They had been outscored 16-6 since while mustering just a point in a shootout loss to Detroit in the home opener a week ago.Derek Dorsett also scored for Columbus.Philip Larsen had the Stars' goal with Kari Lehtonen stopping 25 shots.The Blue Jackets took the lead for good when Prospal collected the puck in the right corner and fired a shot along the goal line that appeared to catch Lehtonen by surprise, slipping into the net.Bobrovsky preserved the lead with a terrific stop on Michael Ryder's one-timer from the right hash midway through the period.Jamie Benn saw his first action of the season for the Stars, who have lost three in a row. He signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract last week and had missed the first five games during negotiations for a new deal and while awaiting a U.S. work permit.Jaromir Jagr, needing just one goal to break a tie with Luc Robitaille (667 goals) to move into 10th on the all-time list, returned to the Dallas lineup after missing one game with a bad back.Lehtonen made a spectacular save in the opening minute of the second. Jack Johnson deked and then fired a shot that Lehtonen got a piece of, the puck flipping over his shoulder. He reached back with his glove to make the grab as the puck was going into the net.The Stars' penalty kill also dominated the opening period. Perfect in all six opportunities coming in when on the road and a man down, the Stars stifled the Blue Jackets, who had three power plays. In fact, Dallas generated more offense with one fewer man than did the Blue Jackets, outshooting them 2-1.Columbus didn't get its first shot on goal until 13:49 in. The Stars outshot the Blue Jackets 9-3 in the first period.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
