MONTREAL, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Defenseman Sergei Zubov, Manny Malhotra and Jason Arnott scored first-period goals against Jose Theodore Tuesday night and the Dallas Stars held on for a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Making his first start since Thursday's 42-save performance in a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders, Theodore fell behind quickly as Zubov notched a power-play tally just 1:51 in.
The reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, Theodore has split time with Jeff Hackett, who is unbeaten in six decisions this season. But the 26-year-old Quebec native has struggled out of the gate, going 2-5-2 with a 3.47 goals-against average.
Less than five minutes after Zubov's goal, Malhotra made it 2-0 with his first of the season. Arnott extended the lead 3:26 thereafter.
Theodore was perfect the rest of the way, making 17 of his 29 saves over the final two periods. But Jere Lehtinen scored into an empty net with 17 seconds to play to clinch the victory.
The Canadiens, who had won three of their previous four games, got on the board early in the second period on Oleg Petrov's fourth goal. They sliced the deficit to one 7:48 into the third on Richard Zednik's eighth goal.
Dallas' Ron Tugnutt made 21 saves.
