Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Kari Lehtonen needed to make just 14 stops for his first shutout of the season as the Dallas Stars handled the Minnesota Wild, 4-0, at American Airlines Center.
Khyri Thornton Jersey . Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist while Trevor Daley, Jamie Benn and Tom Wandell each scored for the Stars, who have won three of their last four. Were not trying to do too much, not trying to be too fancy, said Lehtonen. We got some guys playing good out there and seems like they can do whatever they like. It works and were finding success. Jose Theodore gave up four goals on 31 shots for the Wild, who have lost three of their past four games, including a 4-0 blanking at the hands of Nashville on Thursday. Just like any loss its tough, said Minnesota. You know, we lose to Nashville last night and its four points we missed out on. Benn scored his 19th goal of the season with 7:58 left in the first period and Lehtonen stopped four shots to help the Stars take a 1-0 lead into the second period. In a span of 1:31 in the later stages of the second, the Stars took control of the game. The first came with 4:08 to play as a pass by Daley at the left side of the net hit off the stick of a Wild defender and went in. Just over a minute later, the Stars made it a 3-0 game as Wandells snap-shot from the right circle beat Theodore low for his sixth goal of the season. A mere 18 seconds later, Dallas took a 4-0 lead off a miscue from Minnesota as a defender blindly threw the puck out front from behind the net and Ribeiro one-timed home the gift. Lehtonen stopped seven shots in the second and needed to make just three in the third for the whitewash. GAME NOTES:Lehtonen has 15 shutouts in his career...Dallas has taken all three games against Minnesota and six straight. These two will play each other on the final day of the regular season in Saint Paul...Dallas hosts Los Angeles on Sunday...Minnesota plays at Vancouver on Monday.
A.J. Hawk . When a few shots broke through that defensive front, Jonathan Quick was there. The Kings won the Stanley Cup two years ago with that basic formula, and they can see it clicking again as they close in on another playoff run.
David Bakhtiari . The Desert Foxes took part in the 2010 World Cup and failed to advance past the group stage, and the African side figures to have a tough time reaching the last 16 this time around as well. Belgiums last appearance on the big stage was the 2002 tournament when the team reached the second round before bowing out to eventual champions Brazil.PHILADELPHIA -- Down and out or down to the wire, the 76ers are freefalling toward NBA history. D.J Augustin scored 20 points and Taj Gibson had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 102-94 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, handing the 76ers their 22nd straight loss. The Sixers are four losses shy of matching the NBA record for the longest single-season losing streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers set the record of 26 consecutive losses in the 2010-11 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Denver Nuggets (1997-98) and Charlotte Bobcats (2011-12) each lost 23 straight. "Winnable game," 76ers coach Brett Brown said. "I say that because a group thats been losing ... still stays together. They still compete. Im proud of them." The Sixers also lost their 17th straight home game since beating Charlotte on Jan. 15. They were 8-11 at home at that point and had already defeated Miami, the Bulls, and Houston in Philadelphia. After the Sixers were 3-0 following a Nov. 2 win over Chicago, fans held signs that said, "3-0. Thats No Bull." That seems like another season at times after the Sixers traded Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Lavoy Allen at the deadline for draft picks, a necessary step for a rebuilding franchise. Unlike most of the first 21 losses in the streak, the Sixers were competitive until the final possessions, never letting the Bulls lead by more than 11. Sixers centre Byron Mullens, who hadnt attempted a shot all game, hit consecutive 3s to pull the Sixers to 83-80. He made a nifty save on a ball headed out of bounds, leading to Henry Sims bucket and a foul. With a chance to tie the game, Sims missed the free throw with 8:19 left. Thaddeus Young bailed him out a possession later with a 3-pointer that made it 85-all. Joakim Noah buried a go-ahead 3 from the top of the arc and Augustin followed with one from the sideline to put the Bulls up 91-85. Tony Wrotens 3 made it 93-90 but it was just more false hope. Carlos Boozers emphatic dunk stretched the lead to six and the Bulls did enough to hang on and move to .500 onn the road (17-17).
Bart Starr Authentic Jersey. The Sixers have lost three of four by less than 10 points after losing each of the previous 10 games by double-digits. "We knew it would be this type of game," Augustin said. "We just tried to fight them until the end and it was a fight, a real fight." The Sixers could make it 23 straight with a loss Friday to New York. Then three straight on the road at Chicago, San Antonio and Houston. If the Sixers lose all of those games, the potential record 27th loss would come March 29 vs. Detroit. Young scored 24 points for the Sixers and Wroten had 17. "Were going to get one soon," Wroten said. Boozer had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls and Noah added 14 points and 10 boards. The Sixers solid 11-for-24 3-point shooting was undone by a 9 of 19 mark from the free-throw line. "There is just no inch for error," Brown said. "Theres no wiggle room at all." The Sixers stayed tight and chipped away in the third, making it 64-61 on Youngs 3-pointer. Sims was 0 for 7 from the floor until his first basket cut it to 64-63. The Sixers just couldnt make the clutch basket or two to finally take the lead. Theyd get as close again as two points in the third and trailed only 75-69 at the end of the quarter. "I think Bretts done a great job with them," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Theyve got a lot of moving parts. I give a guy like Young a lot of credit for his professionalism -- how hard he plays. They shot the ball well. The Bulls played without Derrick Rose, the former MVP point guard who tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Thibodeau said Rose could could be ready to return if he gets the call to play this summer for Team USA at the world championships. "I know hed like to do it," Thibodeau said. "I know how USA basketball feels about him. If hes cleared to do it, Id love to see him do it." NOTES: The Sixers are 3-32 since a four-game winning streak ended Jan. 4. ... The Bulls have won seven of eight against the Sixers. ' ' '