Stars 2, Penguins 1: Captain Jamie Benn collected a goal and an assist early in the second period as host Dallas skated to its sixth victory in eight games.

Rookie Brett Ritchie also tallied for the Stars, who improved to 12-3-1 against Metropolitan Division opponents and remained eight points out of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Kari Lehtonen finished with 31 saves as he reached the 30-win plateau for the fifth time in his career.

Defenseman Kris Letang scored on the power play for the sputtering Penguins, who have mustered two goals during their four-game losing streak and found themselves even in points with Washington for third place in the Metropolitan. Captain Sidney Crosby notched an assist for his team-leading 72nd point and Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 24 shots.

After a scoreless first period, Dallas drew first blood 2:14 into the second as Benn backhanded a sharp feed from along the left-wing boards that Ritchie banked off Pittsburgh's Beau Bennett and past Fleury. The Stars doubled the advantage 83 seconds later as an umarked Benn made good on his second attempt from in front to end an 11-game goalless drought.

Pittsburgh halved the deficit at 13:26 as Letang settled Crosby's backhand feed before wristing a shot from above the left faceoff circle past a screened Lehtonen. Undaunted, the 31-year-old Finn stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third period to preserve the win.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Letang's 11th goal matched his career high, which was set last season. ... Pittsburgh went 1-for-4 on the power play, marking just its second goal with the man advantage in the last 26 opportunities. ... Dallas C Jason Spezza won 14-of-18 draws, helping his team hold a 41-24 advantage in faceoffs for the contest.