Backup goalie Mike Smith won for the second consecutive game.

The Stars' new balanced energy line chipped in a key goal.

And Dallas played an organized defensive game that included a confident third period while protecting a one-goal lead.

So, are the Stars a new team under the new administration?

Well, it's probably too early to tell, but the signs after a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings at American Airlines Center on Monday suggest the Stars are on the same page right now.

"The best part of that game was we got better as it went along," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "The third period was our best [period], and we needed that to win the game."

The performance was important for several reasons. First, it pushes the Stars to 9-7-4 (22 points) and keeps them within shooting distance of first place in the Pacific Division.

Second, it was not near as easy as the 6-1 win Friday against Colorado – a victory that, while hard-earned, was atypical of what the Stars will probably face this season. And third, the Stars were able to take a lead, protect a lead and finish with a shutout against a Kings team that had rallied from a 4-0 deficit the last time it met the Stars.

"I think it's a motivator, to make sure it doesn't happen again," Tippett said of the meltdown that led to a 6-5 overtime loss against the Kings.

The coach added that the Stars need to remember that game for the remainder of the season.

"Just go after it," he said of the third-period philosophy.

The Stars did that in a controlled manner. Smith was good, but not spectacular. In earning his fourth career shutout, he stopped 22 shots and was very economical with his movements in net.

"The team is really playing well right now," Smith said. "You can't say enough about how well the boys played in front of me."

The Kings played a solid road game. They clogged up passing lanes, blocked 18 shots and handed out 32 hits.

But the Stars remained patient, and Steve Ott finally broke the scoreless tie at the 18:37 mark of the second period.

Ott's 12th career goal gave the Stars a lead to protect, and the team did it beautifully, outshooting the Kings 11-6 in the third period and pushing the lead to 2-0 when Stephane Robidas hit Niklas Hagman with a smart breakout pass.

Hagman scored on the breakaway for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

"I seem to have confidence right now with breakaways," Hagman said. "I don't think goalies know what I'm going to do."

So the formula is a shutout from the backup goalie and goals from the third and fourth lines? Not really. It's more a team effort in an environment where the Stars can adapt to whatever the opposition is doing.

"Everyone is doing their job," Smith said, "a 20-man effort."

And that's how it has to be going forward, the team insists. It's not about the new GMs or the third or fourth line or which goalie is in net (and Tippett isn't giving any hints about Wednesday's game against Anaheim).

No, the secret to the Stars' success is playing with poise and playing to win games.

"Everyone wants to contribute, and we're finding a way to make that happen right now," Ott said. "That's what we have to keep up, just a good, solid team game, no matter what the other team is doing."