Turco makes 40 saves for 40th career shutout, Stars beat Coyotes 3-0

Turco leads Stars past Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Marty Turco made 40 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 40th overall, and Brandon Segal and rookie Jamie Benn scored second-period goals in the Dallas Stars’ 3-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night.

Turco has blanked the Coyotes twice in the last eight days, posting a 4-0 shutout in Dallas on Feb 6, when Benn had two goals.

Dallas has won five of its last eight games as it fights for a playoff spot, while the Coyotes lost for only the third time in their last 11 games.

Segal also assisted on Toby Petersen’s third-period goal.

Coyotes left winger Petr Prucha was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher early in the first period after taking a hard hit from Dallas’ James Neal. The Coyotes said Prucha was conscious and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Neal checked Prucha into the boards near the penalty box area and Prucha struck his head and crumpled to the ice at 4:01 of the opening period.

Prucha lay on his back for about 7 minutes while emergency personnel strapped him to a gurney before rolling him off the ice. No penalty was called on the play.

Coyotes center Martin Hanzal, Prucha’s Czech Republic countryman, picked a fight with Neal a few minutes later, landing several punches.

Segal scored his second goal of the season at 5:54 of the second period to break a scoreless tie, deflecting Trevor Daley’s slap shot from the right point past goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

Bryzgalov stopped a breakaway by Mike Ribeiro midway through the second period, when Ribeiro tried to jam the puck into the lower left corner, but Benn scored on a 3-on-1 break moments later. Again catching the Coyotes’ defense up ice, Ribeiro carried the puck down the right side toward goal before sending it across the ice to Benn, who slid it past Bryzgalov into an open side.

Peterson scored with 7 minutes remaining off an assist from Segal, playing his first game with the Stars after being claimed off waivers from Los Angeles last week.

NOTES: Benn has four goals in his last four games and 15 overall. … Coyotes right wing Scottie Upshall will miss the rest of the season because of a torn knee ligament.