In a season start that has been scrambled, the Stars have been searching for a sign that they are indeed a team that can compete with the best in the NHL.

They got just a little of that Saturday.

Facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks at American Airlines Center, Dallas played its best game of the young season and was darn-near dominant in a 3-1 victory.

Of course, the Ducks have lost Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer and Dustin Penner from that team and were missing Todd Bertuzzi and Mathieu Schneider because of injuries. But that same lineup was coming off wins against Detroit and Nashville and was leading the Pacific Division.

So, no matter how you line it up, the Stars viewed the contest as a significant challenge.

"That's a really good team over there, and that was probably our best game of the year," forward Stu Barnes said. "It was a good game, start to finish, and we needed that."

In fact, the Stars' slow season start doesn't look so bad this morning. They are 4-2-2, good for 10 points and first place in the division. Even more, they are gaining confidence.

"Really, it's important for us to play better as a team, that's the real challenge," said center Mike Ribeiro, who had a goal and an assist. "I think we did that tonight."

Ribeiro's line, with Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen, got the game off to a quick start as it drew a penalty on its first shift. Morrow scored on the ensuring power play, giving the Stars a 1-0 lead at 2:04 of the first period.

"When you start the game like we did today, you can get rolling, you get confidence," Ribeiro said. "We had the puck more, and we didn't have the turnovers. That makes a big difference."

Ribeiro's chemistry also seemed to help get Lehtinen untracked. Lehtinen tallied his first goal of the season and added an assist.

"Another guy I was glad to see score was Lehtinen," Ribeiro said. "He's been working really hard, and it was great to see him put one in tonight. He's always such a good example to all of us in here."

Lehtinen had been pressing to get that first goal and said he felt relieved as much as he was happy. His opportunity came off a lucky bounce, but it was a lucky bounce in which he had worked hard to get in the right position.

"It's nice to get on the board," he said. "I was in the right place at the right time and was able to put one past him. We've got some pretty good things going on the ice,and we need to keep working."

The Stars in previous outings have been sloppy with the puck and have been unable to play the possession game that allowed them to win 50 games last season. Stars coach Dave Tippett has been juggling line combinations almost daily, but he said the lines that he put together Saturday came out with purpose.

Mike Modano's line established speed, Ribeiro's line provided puck possession, Jeff Halpern's line shut down Anaheim's top offensive line, and Steve Ott's line provided a little muscle and punch. Ott also played some with Modano, and that proved to be a nice in-game adjustment.

ERIC KAYNE / DMN

The Stars' Jere Lehtinen (left) and Stu Barnes (right) challenge the Anaheim's Rob Niedermayer for the puck.

"We've been kind of tinkering with the lineup to make sure everybody is involved," Tippett said. "We're trying to find the rhythm of our lines."

Saturday's game was a perfect example of how that rhythm can overcome some spotty moments. Dallas was whistled for 13 penalties and handed out eight power plays. Still, the Stars' penalty killing stepped up, and Tippett said the short-handed work added momentum to the five-on-five play.

Lehtinen and Ribeiro tallied even-strength goals, and Marty Turco came up with 20 saves to make a statement to the Ducks and, probably to the Stars.

"I think we're still searching for an identity," Halpern said. "I'd like to think we can build on tonight's game. It's the start of creating an identity. We're not there yet."