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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:11 p.m., Sunday, April 20, 2008

NHL: Stars send Ducks packing

Associated Press

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars are taking their chase of the Stanley Cup into the second round of the playoffs — and the reigning champs aren't.

Stephane Robidas, playing with a cage covering his broken nose, scored the tying goal on the power play early in the third period then set up Stu Barnes for the go-ahead goal 52 seconds later, sending the Stars past the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 tonight to end their first-round series in six games.

The Ducks are the fifth straight defending Stanley Cup champions to fail to make the second round. The NHL hasn't had a repeat winner since Detroit in 1997-98. No champion has even taken a title to the finals since the Stars in 2000.

The Ducks led 1-0 after two periods on a goal by Corey Perry. The team that had scored first had won every game so far.

But a power play just 17 seconds into the third unleashed the Stars.

Robidas plugged in a rebound off the end boards for his first career playoff goal. It also ended an 0-for-18 drought on power plays for a team that had opened the series 8-for-18 with the man advantage.

The tying goal brought the crowd to life and Robidas kept them hollering by skating in and feeding Barnes for a nifty shot right in front of the crease.

Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere made several terrific saves after that to keep the Ducks a shot away from tying it. He finished with 22 saves.

Marty Turco stopped 17 shots for Dallas.

Loui Erickson gave him some breathing room by scoring with 2:18 left. Then, with 3.3 seconds left, franchise icon Mike Modano capped it all with a goal into an open net.