Stars 2, Coyotes 1: Veteran Ray Whitney scored early in the first period and Kari Lehtonen came within 16 seconds of a shutout as host Dallas moved into eighth place in the Western Conference entering the Olympic break.

Rookie Valeri Nichushkin scored for the second consecutive contest for the Stars, who posted a 3-1 triumph over Phoenix on Tuesday and improved to 6-1-2 in their last nine games overall. Lehtonen made 26 saves in the win.

After Mike Smith stopped all 30 shots he faced versus Chicago on Friday, Dallas solved the netminder just 2:10 into the contest. Whitney skated up the left wing before weaving into the slot and wiring a shot from the inner edge of the right faceoff circle past Smith (31 saves) for his seventh goal of the season and 383rd career.

Nichushkin deflected defenseman Trevor Daley's shot past Smith with 34 seconds remaining in the middle period to double the advantage. Officials reviewed the play and allowed the goal to stand, deeming Nichushkin's stick was below the crossbar.

Radim Vrbata's power-play goal prevented Lehtonen from notching his 26th career shutout and fourth this season. Antoine Vermette had an assist to extend his career-high point streak to 10 games, but the Coyotes failed to net the equalizer.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Vermette has registered eight goals and five assists during his point streak ... Coyotes C Martin Hanzal returned after missing a contest due to illness, but D Derek Morris sat out with an upper-body injury. ... Dallas C Tyler Seguin saw his seven-game point streak come to an end. He recorded three goals and eight assists during the run. ... Phoenix D Michael Stone played in his 100th career game.