Game within a game

THREE STARS Mike Ribeiro, Stars. Two goals, one assist, two hits, plus- 2, 7- for- 13 on faceoffs.

Stephane Robidas, Stars. One goal, one assist, two shots, two hits, six blocked shots, plus- 4.

Chris Higgins, Canucks. One goal, one assist, two shots, one hit. PIVOTAL POINT With time winding down in the second period and the teams tied 1- 1, Alex Edler pinched at the offensive blue- line, did not have support and was caught, leading to a clean 2- on- 1 rush against lone defender Sami Salo. Mike Ribeiro used Michael Ryder as a decoy and then went shortside top shelf on Roberto Luongo for the crucial go- ahead goal. BY THE NUMBERS The Stars improved to 9- 0- 1 against Canadian- based opponents this season ... Canuck grinder Max Lapierre appeared in his 400th regular- season game Tuesday ... Stars winger Michael Ryder extended his points streak to seven games 5- 4- 9 ... The Canucks lost for the seventh time in regulation in the 45 games where they have scored first ... Alex Burrows and Sami Salo were both minus- 3 while Henrik and Daniel Sedin were both minus- 2. PENALTY SHOOTING Zack Kassian’s failed first- period penalty shot was the first attempt by a Canuck this season. Canucks opponents have had two: Daniel Paille of Boston in the Jan. 12th game and Maksim Mayorov of Columbus on Oct. 10 in the second game of the season. Both were on Cory Schneider and both were stopped. HIT PARADE Former Vancouver Giants captain Mark Fistric was throwing his considerable weight around, all 233 pounds of it, throughout the night and finished with seven hits. The Stars had 32 as a team. The Canucks had 25. Kevin Bieksa led Vancouver with four. DID YOU KNOW? The re- born Winnipeg Jets, who visit Rogers Arena on Thursday, will make their first visit to Vancouver since Feb. 13, 1996, a game won 5- 4 by the Canucks. Rick Ley was the Canucks coach that season. He was fired with six games remaining and replaced by GM Pat Quinn.