NASHVILLE, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Mike Ribeiro scored twice in the opening period Thursday and Kari Lehtonen stopped 24 shots to bring the Dallas Stars a 4-1 victory over Nashville.
The Stars had lost three out of four, but Lehtonen showed some of the form that made him one of the top goaltenders in the league early in the season. This was his fourth appearance after injuries had kept him out of the lineup for a month and he gave up 10 goals in the first three outings.
Gabriel Bourque beat Lehtonen 8:31 into the game to forge a 1-1 tie, but Ribeiro put the Stars in front for good with a slap shot with 39 seconds left in the first.
Jamie Benn scored in the second period and Adam Burish tallied in the third to round out the scoring. Benn also had two assists.
Nashville had won three straight. Pekka Rinne gave up the four goals on 30 shots.
