EDMONTON, Alberta – Maybe the sub-zero temperatures simply froze the Stars for the first period Friday night.

What other explanation could there be for getting out-shot, 17-5, and looking like they forgot their skates.

"I don't know what happened," Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "But it was a good thing Marty wasn't frozen."

Stars goalie Marty Turco came up with another outstanding performance to allow the Stars to get their feet under them, finishing with 32 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.

It was the second straight game Turco has been spectacular since making the decision over the All-Star break that he was going to limit distractions and focus on the basics of goaltending.

And he said that if he needs to go again tonight against the Calgary Flames, that wouldn't be a problem.

"That's the coach's decision, but I'm preparing myself to play that game," Turco said. "I feel good right now."

Stars coach Dave Tippett said Dallas needs these kinds of performances from Turco. The Stars are missing veteran defensemen Sergei Zubov (foot/groin) and Philippe Boucher (shoulder) and are playing three defensemen who are 23 or younger.

"What you have to recognize is that our game is not going to be flawless right now," Tippett said. "We have a pretty young back end, and there are going to be some hiccups. It's how we respond to those and sweep those up, and Marty has done a great job for us. He's sweeping up a lot for us right now."

The Stars also have been struggling with injuries to key forwards, but Jere Lehtinen returned Friday after missing 33 games with a sports hernia and had an immediate impact. He played 18:03 and was on the ice for the Stars' first two goals, recording an assist on the first.

He also played a big role in getting the Stars struggling power play going again.

"There are players who are scorers on the power play, and there are players that make power plays work," Tippett said. "He's one of those guys who make the power play work. He gets great second chances, he gets to loose pucks, he's got a good, quick shot. He makes things happen."

Lehtinen played most of the game with Mike Modano and Jussi Jokinen, but he also found time to play on the power play with former linemates Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow. When Lehtinen was on the ice for goals, he was on with Ribeiro and Morrow.

That duo had one of its better recent games as Ribeiro had two slick passes that led directly to goals. He fed Morrow for a one-timer from the slot for the first goal and then found Stephane Robidas for a power-play goal that proved to be the game-winner. It was the third power-play goal for Robidas in the last five games.

The power play went 2-for-7 as Jokinen added a key insurance goal in the third period. It was the 12th goal of the year for Jokinen. Steve Ott then added an empty-net goal for the final score.

Modano was hit by a Joni Pitkanen elbow in the third period, but Modano was fine after the game. There was no penalty called and the Stars said they did not see the hit.