Stars rally to beat Blues 4-2 with three third-period goals

ST. LOUIS -- Slumping Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen took advantage of a timely visit to St. Louis.

Lehtonen stopped 28 shots and Brad Richards scored the go-ahead goal at 6:32 of the third period to lead the Stars to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

Lehtonen broke a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-1 lifetime against St. Louis. Lehtonen has never allowed more than two goals in all seven career starts against the Blues.

"I don't know if there's any secret to it," Lehtonen said. "I just try to come in here and play well. It certainly wasn't easy."

Lehtonen, who improved to 16-10-4, stopped the final 19 shots. He had given up 10 goals in his previous two games.

Dallas Stars' James Neal (18) celebrates with Toby Petersen (17) after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in St. Louis. The Stars beat the Blues 4-2. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

"It was a great bounce-back game for him," Dallas coach Marc Crawford said. "They had a couple really good chances in the third period and he stood his ground. He's a calming influence when he plays like that."

Lehtonen helped the Stars to their fifth successive road victory.

Richards had two assists and Brenden Morrow scored twice to help Dallas finish 4-0 against St. Louis this season. Dallas outscored St. Louis 7-0 in the third period during the four contests and won the first three meetings by one goal.

James Neal added a goal with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left.

St. Louis, which carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, had a five-game winning streak snapped. Alex Steen and David Backes scored for the Blues. Steen has a team-high 13 goals, nine in the last 16 games.

The Blues were 12-2-1 when leading after two periods.

"They started making us pay in the third period," Backes said. "We needed a little more push, a little more effort."

Morrow began the comeback with his second goal of the night 2:28 into the third period. Richards added his team-high 18th goal and his third game-winning tally of the season.