Stars Finish Off Oilers

Archived from 2000-01 season.

2001 Playoffs

Joe Nieuwendyk returned from a knee injury and scored the game-winner with 2:53 left as the Dallas Stars beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 and won the first round series 4-2.

"It was huge," Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We all knew if this was a regular-season game he wouldn't have been around."

"I just tried to concentrate on keeping the game simple, trying to be good defensively and win my faceoffs," Nieuwendyk said. "I was hoping for a few opportunities and I got one."

Ryan Smith scored his third goal of the series 4:44 into the game to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

"We honestly felt we could beat this team this year," said Smyth. "We have a great core of character guys here. We had it this year. Emotionally it's hard to take."

Brett Hull tied the game in the third period and Mike Modano added an empty-netter.

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