Stars Win Opener

Edmonton
Oilers

"This was one of the best games we've played against Edmonton in two years," Stars Coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We created a number of scoring chances and moved the puck properly."

It is the fourth straight year the teams meet in the first round and it was the eighth time in a row Dallas won. Each of the last six games have been decided by one goal.

"I told somebody before the game that we've got to get back to being prepared to play 1-0 and 2-1 games," Stars captain Derian Hatcher said. "We have to have the confidence to win the close games, and I'm sure they have the confidence as well. If you're not confident you can win the close ones, you might as well not show up."

Roman Lyashenko, a 20-year-old rookie forward, scored the winning goal with 8:29 left in the third period.

"My teammates worked hard for that goal. I put my stick on the ice and shot it into the net," said Lyashenko. "I played three years in the Russian league and I've been in the playoffs before. But this is a new level for me."

German Titov scored the Oilers only goal. Edmonton didn't keep Ed Belfour in Dallas' net too busy, the Oilers had only 13 total shots in the game.

"That was our worst game against them in quite some time," Edmonton coach Kevin Lowe said. "In the second period, we turned the puck over far too often. We played a good first period, but then we got frustrated. I'm not so sure it was anything that they did as much as we just got frustrated."