Columbus Blue Jackets 0, Dallas Stars 1 FINAL

DALLAS (AP) _ The Dallas Stars got just what they wanted in their last game before the All-Star break. Another win, any way they could.

Jason Arnott scored on a backhander and All-Star goalie Marty Turco stopped 18 shots for his 17th career shutout Wednesday night, and the Stars beat Columbus 1-0 to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.

``That was the name of the game tonight, get two points and get out,'' Stars coach Dave Tippett said. ``The last game before the All-Star break, it's tough mentally. We dug in, found a way to score a goal and hold on.''

Dallas went 6-0-1 in its last games before the All-Star break, moving up to fifth place it the Western Conference standings. The Stars didn't trail at any point for the first time in six games.

``It wasn't very exciting, but we got the two points that we needed,'' left wing Brenden Morrow said. ``San Jose keeps winning, but we're getting closer.''

Dallas is within three points of the Pacific Division-leading Sharks, who have one more game before the break.

The only score came with 13:01 left in the second period when Darren Oliver worked the puck along the board to Steve Ott, who then passed it to the front of the net for Arnott's 13th goal. Dallas is 10-1-1 when Arnott scores a goal.

``This is what we needed, to go into the break with a win,'' Arnott said. ``We need a good solid break, and then come back focused.''

Columbus has the NHL's worst road record at 3-16-4-2. The Blue Jackets have never won in seven trips to Dallas.

The Blue Jackets were again without NHL goal-scoring leader Rick Nash, the 19-year-old left wing who missed his second straight game because of a bruised left foot.

Nash, who has 31 goals, is scheduled to skate Thursday to determine if he can play in the All-Star game this weekend.

``We knew they were going to have a game plan to make sure they didn't come in here and lost to Columbus going into the break,'' coach Gerard Gallant said. ``We were missing Nash, but the other guys played real hard. We had good goaltending, and that really gave us a chance to win late.''

Marc Denis stopped 28 shots Wednesday, including the first 19.

But Turco, making his 16th straight start and appearing in his 29th straight game, posted his fifth shutout this season and his NHL-best 26th win. He will start for the Western Conference All-Stars on Sunday.

Turco has won all seven of his career games against Columbus, with a .915 save percentage (140 of 153).

Turco has missed just two of Dallas' 56 games this season, and has already played 3,202 minutes _ one minute shy of his total last season. He's on pace to break the NHL record for minutes played by a goalie, set last season when Denis played 4,511.

Most of the first period was played in front of Denis, who made several saves with traffic in front of the net. The Stars outshot Columbus 16-4 in the first.

The Stars won their 58th straight game when leading after two periods, a streak that goes back to Oct. 19, 2002. It's the longest in the NHL, but still 101 games short of Toronto's record set from 1960-65.