AFP, Dallas :
Kari Lehtonen made 22 saves on Friday as the Dallas Stars beat the St. Louis Blues 3-0 to clinch their first NHL playoff berth since 2008.
The Stars secured the final spot in the Western Conference, eliminating the Phoenix Coyotes in the process.
Tyler Seguin and Ryan Garbutt both scored, while Trevor Daley supplied a goal and an assist.
Jamie Benn contributed two assists for the Stars, who have won two of their last three games. Ryan Miller stopped 37-of-40 shots he faced in the Blues’ fifth straight defeat.
The Blues were without both David Backes, who is nursing a foot injury, and T.J. Oshie, who took an illegal hit to the head from Minnesota Wild forward Mike Rupp on Thursday.
Rupp was suspended four games for the illegal hit.
St. Louis are currently tied for the Central Division lead with Colorado, who fell 5-1 to the Sharks in San Jose on Friday.
