NHL Playoffs | Dallas prevails on road again

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Mike Modano and the Dallas Stars probably don't want to leave the Shark Tank. At least they are heading home with a two-game lead in a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series that might be turning into a rout.

Modano scored the tiebreaking goal early in the Stars' four-goal third period, and Marty Turco made 29 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Sharks in Game 2, sending Dallas home with a commanding series lead.

Brad Richards of Dallas tied the score after a San Jose turnover in the opening minute of the third period, and Niklas Hagman added two insurance goals in the Stars' eighth victory in their last nine games in San Jose. Mike Ribeiro scored an early goal before Dallas put a tremendous finish on another profitable night at the Shark Tank.

"We've had amazing third periods so far in the playoffs," said Modano, who has six goals in six games in San Jose this season, including regular-season play. "It was a big trip for us. Now it's up to us to respond to this at home. We know this is far from over. But at the same time, we had a great two days here. Every shift, every night, we've looked hungry."

Dallas hasn't reached the conference finals since 2000, when the Stars beat San Jose in the second round on the way to their second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance.

The Sharks might have a better chance to get competitive in Texas, as the league's best road team during the regular season has won three of its last four games in Dallas.

Milan Michalek and Joe Pavelski scored for the second-seeded Sharks, who are 4-5 overall in the playoffs with none of the momentum they acquired during their 20-game regular-season streak without a regulation defeat.

San Jose nursed a 2-1 lead heading into the third period, but Richards tied the score 32 seconds in after a giveaway by Pavelski. Modano put the Stars ahead with 16:21 to play on a goal set up by an exceptional play from defenseman Sergei Zubov, who was in Dallas' lineup for the first time since Jan. 17.

Zubov, who had been out because of a sports hernia, made a stunning cross-ice backhand pass out of a pirouette, and Modano buried his second goal in two playoff games against San Jose.

Dallas won the opener 3-2 on captain Brenden Morrow's overtime goal, using its trapping defensive style to neutralize the Sharks' offensive talent as effectively as they did against Anaheim in the opening round.

San Jose struggled to adjust to a slower pace after beating the Calgary Flames in the first round. Coach Ron Wilson indicated the Sharks will try to pick up the tempo.

"We can just relax now and push the pace, and play as a desperate hockey team," Wilson said. "You just have to keep playing on. You can't worry about your missed opportunities."

Other game

At Penguins 2, Rangers 0

Jordan Staal scored a power-play goal in the second period and Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a victory over New York and a home-ice sweep of the first two games of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Staal's goal came with older brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman, on the ice, and was all the offensive support Fleury needed while making 26 saves. Fleury helped the Penguins survive two New York power plays in the final six-plus minutes.