Dallas’ Hot Start Against Elite Teams

Around the NHL

When the Dallas Stars saw they had to play the last three Stanley Cup champions in the first 10 days of the season, they might have wondered if the NHL schedule maker had a grudge against them.

Then the Stars, who missed the playoffs last season, calmly went out and defeated the Colorado Avalanche, the 1996 Cup winner; the New York Rangers, the 1994 champions; and the New Jersey Devils, who won in 1995.

“The players we’ve added have made a big difference, and some of the players we added a while ago, like Greg Adams, are starting to make a difference,” said Doug Overton, Dallas’ pro scout. “Sergei Zubov has made a quick adjustment and he seems to be happy in Dallas. And some of the younger players, like Todd Harvey and Jamie Langenbrunner, are coming along.”

On the ice

Brendan Shanahan scored his first two goals for Detroit and Chris Osgood got his second shutout of the season as the Red Wings beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 Monday night.

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic, who had nine points in three games, was selected as the NHL player of the week.

The 1999 NHL All-Star Game will be played in Tampa, Fla., the league said Monday.

Blues forward Brett Hull, who starred for the U.S. team in last summer’s World Cup tournament, has only one goal in eight games this season.