NHL: Dallas 2, San Jose 1

DALLAS, April 14 (UPI) -- Richard Bachman backstopped Dallas with 31 saves Saturday and the surging Stars pressed toward a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over San Jose.

Bachman turned aside all 12 shots he saw in the first period as the Stars were getting goals from Alex Chiasson and Eric Nystrom to establish a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

With its fifth straight victory, Dallas improved to 45 points and moved ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot thanks to a tiebreaker.

Both teams have seven games left on the schedule.

Brent Burns scored and Antti Niemi made 17 saves for the fifth-seeded Sharks, who lost for the third time in four contests.