Senators 4, Stars 2

DALLAS - Christoph Schubert and Antoine Vermette scored first-period goals, and the Ottawa Senators went on to a 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.

Mike Fisher added a power-play goal in the third period and Ray Emery stopped 23 shots in an improved defensive effort for the Senators, who had allowed four or more goals in seven of their previous eight games.

Ottawa won its second straight to improve to a Northeast Division-best 39 points, but the Senators are 2-4-3 in their last nine games.

The teams hadn't met since Dec. 15, 2005, and hadn't played in Dallas since Jan. 28, 2004.

Mike Ribeiro scored his 12th goal of the season for Dallas with 1:49 left to make it 3-2, but the Stars were unable to tie it after pulling goalie Mike Smith for an extra attacker with 90 seconds remaining.

Chris Kelly's empty-netter with 27 seconds left iced the win for the Senators.

Niklas Hagman registered his 11th goal on a power play, Brenden Morrow had two assists, and Smith made 17 saves for the Stars, 8-4 in their last 12 games.

Schubert scored a flukey goal at 5:18 of the first period - his fourth - when his flip toward the net from 50 feet got past Smith, who was screened.

Dallas capitalized on a 5-on-3 to tie it at 1-1 when Hagman fired home a rebound at 7:32 of the opening period.

The Stars had failed to score a power-play goal in five of their previous six games.

Vermette's outstanding individual effort gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 16:29 of the first period when he broke in alone past Dallas defenceman Stephane Robidas and Matt Niskanen and fired his fifth of the season through Smith's pads.

Fisher added his seventh of the season from the left circle to stretch Ottawa's advantage to 3-1 only 22 seconds after Dallas' Stu Barnes received a double-minor for high-sticking.

Notes: Hagman received a five-minute roughing penalty and a game misconduct with 3:38 left in the second period after he checked Schubert hard into the glass. Schubert seemed woozy and was down for a few minutes before skating slowly to the bench, but was back on the ice during the ensuing power play ... Out for the Stars were RW Antti Miettinen (groin) and LW Loui Eriksson (shoulder) ... RW Patrick Eaves (shoulder) and D Anton Volchenkov (hand) were out for the Senators ... The Senators held a 6-1 shots edge in a scoreless second period ... Ottawa C Jason Spezza had a nine-game point streak snapped ... The Senators are off until Wednesday, when they continue their road stretch in Raleigh, N.C., against the Hurricanes (7:30 p.m., TSN, Team 1200). Then it's off to Pittsburgh the next night before finally returning home against the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 15.