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DALLAS -- Kari Lehtonen credits one save in the second period with making his 100th victory with the Dallas Stars possible. Alex Smith White Jersey . Jamie Benn and Colton Sceviour scored goals 15 seconds apart in the first period Thursday night, leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. "It was just one of those things at the right time. Sometimes you make a good save, sometimes you dont. That one gave me a lot of confidence," Lehtonen said. "It was a 2-1 at the time, and everything took off from there." Barely a minute into the second, Lehtonen stopped Jannik Hansen with a glove save. "The defining moment in the game was that save he made in the second," teammate Rich Peverley said. "It could have been a 2-2 game right there." Vancouver (20-11-6) lost on the road for the second time in three nights following a seven-game winning streak. They had earned at least a point in eight consecutive games. The Stars won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak Nov. 13-17. They also have won both games against the Canucks, with Lehtonen allowing only one goal in each game. Dallas (17-12-5) started fast, taking six of the first seven shots on goal, including Benns goal at 4:34 and Sceviours third in four NHL games this season at 4:49. Erik Cole had a goal and two assists, and Tyler Seguin and Peverley added two assists apiece for Dallas. But it was Lehtonen who made the biggest plays. He stopped short-range shots by Hansen on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush and by Brad Richardson 2 seconds after Ryan Keslers penalty expired midway through the first period. Canucks coach John Tortorella also noted the importance of Lehtonens saves. "Lehtonen made some great saves at key times. Weve seen that before against him. Yeah, we couldnt score and the third one hurt us." Cole scored Dallas third goal at 16:56 of the second. His shot trickled past goalie Roberto Luongos right side and across the goal line. "It was a wrister," Luongo said. "I think it might have fallen between my legs or something. But whatever it is, its inexcusable at that point in the game." In the third period, Coles backhand pass set up Valeri Nichushkin in the right faceoff circle, and his shot beat Luongo. "(Cole) put the puck on the net and somehow got a goal," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "And he made a heck of a play on Vals goal. (Cole) is a big man, and hes hard to control." Tortorella then replaced the goalie with Eddie Lack. Luongo stopped just 15 of 19 shots. Lehtonen made 26 saves and allowed only one goal, to Chris Higgins at 7:38 of the first. Dallas goalie had allowed 10 goals during his previous two starts and 23 in compiling a 2-3-1 record over the last six. "Ive had a rough go the last couple of weeks, so its nice to have a good game," Lehtonen said. "That made me more relaxed." Ruff said, "He got some big, timely saves." Lehtonen said of his 100th win, "I didnt know about it until just after the game when they announced it. Hopefully, Ill have a lot more." Vancouvers second shot of the game was Higgins goal from the right faceoff circle. The Stars had the games first power play midway through the period, but the Canucks had the best scoring chances, by Hansen and Richardson. Dallas finally broke through for a 3-1 lead on Coles goal. Cody Eakin beat Luongo with a shot 22 seconds before the period ended, but the goal was waved off because of an interference penalty against the Stars Ryan Garbutt. "I think we started really well. We were generating much of the offence," Lehtonen said. "They bounced back in the second period." But the Canucks failed to score in the second despite a 13-5 advantage in shots. "We knew they were going to come out with a push in the second," Ruff said. "I think in the last 10 minutes of the period, we got back on our game." NOTES: Canucks defenceman Ryan Stanton didnt play after injuring his ankle injury midway through Tuesdays shootout loss at Minnesota. He flew back to Vancouver from Minneapolis. . Dallas defenceman Sergei Gonchar entered Thursdays game with six assists in the three previous games and eight in the last seven contests. He didnt score a point, but did have two takeaways. . Cole and Nichushkin scored Dallas goals in the 2-1 victory at Vancouver Nov. 17. Dee Ford Red Jersey . Gee shook off the rough patch in an otherwise strong outing, Lucas Duda backed him with a homer and single to drive in four runs, and the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Saturday night. Derrick Thomas Grey Jersey . Its a break team chairman Ed Snider would love to abolish. Mason stopped 38 shots, and Mark Streit and Michael Raffl scored goals, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Thursday night.SURPRISE, Ariz. - Matt Harrison concedes that he likely wont be ready to pitch for the Texas Rangers by opening day. The left-hander, who hasnt thrown in a week because of stiffness in his neck and back, just hopes things are different from last year. He was the opening day starter then, but made only one more start. "Kind of trade-off from last year," Harrison said Sunday. "Only making two and miss 30, and miss two and make 30, that would be nice. Even though Harrison is feeling much better after switching beds, he was still returning to Texas to be examined by the specialist who did both operations last year for a herniated disk in his lower back. "I think at this stage, based upon the initial symptoms that he reported, we just wanted to make sure were all clear before we ramp up again," Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said. Harrison had also been scheduled to throw live batting practice last Tuesday and wanted to pitch, but the Rangers held him out of that as a precaution because of neck stiffness. Two days later, he was scratched again from a throwing session with stiffness in his back. An MRI showed no immediate cause for concern, but the Rangers scheduled an appointment with Dr. Drew Dossett, who wasnt available until Monday because he was at the NFL combine. "I think for sure the bed was an issue. Since Ive gotten out of that bed and switched bbeds I havent had any issues," Harrison said. Dee Ford Jersey. "Everybody usually feels sore the first couple of days just getting back acclimated to running around out there." Harrison won 18 games and was an All-Star in 2012, then got a $55 million, five-year contract. He had never had any back issues before last spring, and still made his first two scheduled starts. After going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA, Harrison got two epidural injections and a second opinion before two operations in a matter of weeks. Harrison threw for a couple of months with no problems before camp this year, so he expect to have to completely start over when he is cleared by the Rangers to throw again. He hopes hes able to make his season debut no later than the middle of April. "This little setback set them on high alert and theyre probably going to slow it down a little bit," he said. "Which I hate because going through a healthy off-season and being ready to go its tough to get shut down. But its early." Levine said the Rangers put a lot more value on having Harrison healthy for the stretch drive late in the season than a start in April. "Were not panicking," manager Ron Washington said. "He is feeling better. Hes not feeling what caused us to shut him down anymore, so hopefully when the doctor sees him, it was just was some residual from everything he had done." ' ' '