DUCKS' MOMENTUM STOPPED BY STARS DALLAS 4, DUCKS 0.

ANAHEIM - Playing their best hockey of the season, the Mighty Ducks returned home Friday looking to build on a successful five-game road trip that lifted them to the best start in franchise history after 20 games.

They were snapped back to reality by the Dallas Stars, who lead the NHL with 31 points after a 4-0 victory over the Ducks in front of 12,509 at the Pond.

''We didn't put any pressure on them at all,'' Ducks center Matt Cullen said. ''We just played poorly.''

The Ducks had earned a point in the standings in eight consecutive games, tying the second-longest streak in franchise history. They were 5-0-0-3 in their last eight games, and 6-1-1-3 in their past 11.

But they looked fatigued at the start and never picked up their tempo.

Dallas was just as hot, going 6-2-2-0 in its past 10 games. The first period has been Dallas' best all season, and it has been the Ducks' worst. The Stars had outscored opponents 27-10 before Friday's game.

The Ducks came out a bit flat in the first, and Dallas took advantage for an early goal. Defenseman Philippe Boucher beat Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere with a slap shot from just inside the blue line for a 1-0 lead 7:36 into the first period.

Before that, Ducks right wing Patric Kjellberg, playing on the first line in place of the injured Mike Leclerc, had three chances in front of Dallas goalie Marty Turco. He failed to get a clean attempt of any of them.

With less than three minutes remaining in the period, the Ducks had a power play and rookie Stanislav Chistov created their best chance in the period. Chistov took a pass from Paul Kariya and held the puck to Turco's right. Kariya slid to the far side of the goal, where Chistov slipped a pass across the goal. Kariya tried a quick one-timer but Turco recovered to make the save.

Giguere had to be just as sharp, especially in the final 12 seconds of the period. The Stars' Bill Guerin had two open shots that Giguere smothered.

Andy McDonald's line was among the most active for the Ducks, especially in the second, and McDonald nearly got the Ducks even when he banged a shot off the inside of the post less than seven minutes into the second period.

McDonald made a quick move to get by Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov, who hip-checked him as he went by. McDonald got off a shot as he fell to the ice. It beat Turco but bounced off the post.

Dallas' Rob DiMaio also hit the post. The Ducks were on the power play, but DiMaio got a two-on-one rush on Giguere. His wrist shot got by Giguere but deflected off the post.

The Stars got a power play of their own near the end of the period and turned it into a 2-0 lead. Guerin's shot from the left faceoff circle was saved by Giguere, but the rebound trickled across the crease. With an empty goal in front of him, Ulf Dahlen lunged at the rebound and knocked in his ninth goal of the season.

The Ducks had enjoyed the most success this season in the second period, outscoring opponents 19-14. But they were outshot by the Stars 12-7 and had only a few quality scoring chances early in the period.

``I'm not trying to pretend for a second that we earned a better (result),'' Ducks coach Mike Babcock said. ``The best team tonight won the game.''

Less than three minutes into the third period, the Ducks' Alexi Smirnov made a nice move at the blue line to get by a defenseman. But he got off only a weak attempt and the Stars scored twice in the next five minutes.

``With us being a step, maybe, slower than we normally are, and add that to with them being a step quicker than most teams, that's what you get,'' Babcock said.

Scott Young carried the puck from behind the goal to point-blank range in front of Giguere. He was all by himself when he put a wrist shot between Giguere's legs for a 3-0 lead less than six minutes into the period.

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Photo:

Ducks right winger Dan Bylsma, left, battles for a loose puck with Stars left winger Manny Malhotra in the first period.

John Hayes/Associated Press