Alex Auld makes 31 saves to help Stars beat Red Wings 3-1

Auld backstops Stars to 3-1 win over Red Wings

DETROIT — Alex Auld made 31 saves, and Mike Ribeiro, Matt Niskanen and Loui Eriksson scored in the Dallas Stars’ 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.

Brad Richards and James Neal each had two assists for the Stars.

Henrik Zetterberg scored for Detroit, and Jimmy Howard stopped 29 shots. The loss snapped the Red Wings’ winning streak at three.

Niskanen gave the Stars a 2-0 lead 3:52 into the second period with his first goal of the season. He beat Howard with a one-timer from the point.

Zetterberg put Detroit on the board 6:16 into the middle period with his ninth goal. He cut into the slot from the right wing and beat Auld high on the sick side.

Eriksson’s power-play goal with 7:17 left gave the Stars a 3-1 lead. He tipped in a cross-crease pass.

Ribeiro opened the scoring on a power play 9:26 into the game. His attempted pass was accidentally swatted into the net by Detroit defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who sprawled along the ice in order to thwart a pass. It was Ribeiro’s sixth goal.

NOTES: Detroit G Chris Osgood missed his third game because of the flu. … Dallas LA Fabian Brunnstrom missed his third game due to a shoulder injury. … Stars’ C Brian Sutherby missed his second game with a groin injury. … The Red Wings’ Brad May and the Stars’ Krystofer Barch fought in the second period after having a good-natured conversation during pregame warmups. … An apparent goal by May, 6:24 into the third period, was waved off because it was ruled the whistle had blown.