STARS 3, CANADIENS 0: Mike Ribeiro scored in his return to Montreal and Kari Lehtonen turned aside 31 shots as Dallas won for only the second time in seven games.

Ribeiro, making his first visit to the Bell Centre since being traded to Dallas in 2006, gave the Stars some insurance with the first of two third-period goals that effectively put the game away.

Lehtonen handled things at the other end of the ice, making 25 saves over the final two periods for his second shutout of the season and the 19th of his career.

The Stars opened the scoring 14:12 in, as Ryan Garbutt one-timed a shot from the low slot past Montreal netminder Carey Price for his first career NHL goal.

Montreal's Scott Gomez had the best scoring chance of the second period, but Lehtonen turned aside his one-timer near the seven-minute mark.

Dallas broke things open with two goals in a 37-second span of the third.

Ribeiro made it 2-0 at 4:32, gathering a pass from Trevor Daley at the edge of the crease and sliding the puck into a wide-open net with Price well out of position.

A Price mistake led to the third Stars goal. His pass attempt was intercepted at the Montreal blue line and the puck wound up on the stick of Tom Wandell, whose wrist shot from the slot eluded Price on the glove side.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Stars haven't lost a game in regulation in which they've led after two periods since Oct. 31, 2009. ... Ribeiro's goal extended his points streak to four games, during which he has collected two goals and three assists. ... Stars forward Michael Ryder, who also played for the Canadiens at one time, was held scoreless with a plus-one rating and two shots on goal.