Stars clip Wings

NHL teams

"The goal by Nieuwendyk really helped us by setting the offensive tone," said Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock. "We were starting to question ourselves the last few games offensively. We were shut out twice in the last three games, but the big goal by Joe helped us."

Nieuwendyk's goal was the fastest in franchise history. He added to assists in the first period as the Stars built a comfortable 4-0 lead. Derian Hatcher, Darryl Sydor and Grant Marshall had the other first-period goals.

"We've had some bad luck in this building for a long time," said forward Mike Modano. "The first period has always dictated the game here, and tonight we had a good first period."

The teams traded goals in the second period Modano finishing scoring for Dallas and Darren McCarty scoring Detroit's lone goal.

"They got one right off the bat and then got a 4-0 lead early," Detroit's Steve Yzerman said. "As good as Dallas is defensively, that can make it very difficult."

Yzerman was hit hard in the first period by Dan Keczmer and had to go the dressing room for stitches. He returned in the second period, twice drew roughing penalties trying to mix it up with Keczmer in the third.