Stars winger Steve Ott, who could have been a restricted free agent in the summer, has signed a two-year contract extension, the Stars announced on Tuesday. Ott, who will make $787,500 this season, is scheduled to earn $1.35 million next season and $1.5 million in 2009-10.

Ott, 25, had career highs of 11 goals and 22 points. He led the Stars in faceoff winning percentage (58.8 percent) and in penalty minutes (147). He ranked third in hits at 182. "Steve Ott has done a great job of earning this contract," said Stars co-general manager Les Jackson. "He has developed into a valuable piece in our team chemistry and he brings a solid work ethic to our hockey club day in and day out."

Mike Heika

Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen has put up his car for auction in hopes of raising money for the family of Matt McKee, the Stars ticket manager who died early this season.

Niskanen, 21, has driven the 2000 Pontiac Sunfire throughout college and brought it to Dallas when he made the Stars roster this season. Stars goalie Marty Turco took the car without Niskanen knowing and "pimped" it, giving it a new paint job, interior and stereo. The car is painted in NASCAR fashion with Stars colors, Stars logos and big No. 5s on the doors.

The high bid on Tuesday was $15,000. You can access the auction at www.dallasstars.com.

Niskanen said he would miss the car.

"I loved the car. I'd probably still be driving it if it was in its old form," he said. "But this is a great cause and it's a great memory."

Mike Heika

San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov denied Niklas Hagman on a third-period penalty shot with the score tied, 1-1. Hagman, who had been hauled down by Sharks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff on his way to the net, saw his backhand attempt smothered. "That's what I'm there for, to make a save when the guys need it," Nabokov said.

Chuck Carlton

San Jose defenseman Craig Rivet was violently knocked to the ice by a chain reaction hit early in the third period.

The Stars' Brenden Morrow finished a hard check on San Jose defenseman Brian Campbell in the Sharks' zone. The collision sent Campbell's helmet back into Rivet's jaw, sending him to the ice for a couple of minutes before he skated off.

He returned late in the third period.

Chuck Carlton

San Jose D Kyle McLaren (lower-body injury) missed his third consecutive game in the series. ... This marks the first time since early in the 2000 playoffs that the Stars have won four consecutive playoff games. The Stars won Games 4-5 to finish off Edmonton in the conference quarterfinals, then took the first two in a five-game victory over San Jose. ... Stu Barnes was still assessing the damage from a hard hit from the shoulder of San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo. "I got my bell rung a little bit there, so we'll see," Barnes said.