DALLAS _ It's too early to know if the Blackhawks are playing spoiler or positioning themselves for one more run at a playoff berth.
But the way they played Saturday, it's clear they have fight left in them.
Alex DeBrincat and David Kampf scored first-period goals and Corey Crawford made 26 saves to give the Hawks a 2-1 victory over the Stars at American Airlines Center in one of their best all-around games of the season.
The Hawks outshot the Stars 39-27 and didn't commit a penalty while moving within seven points of the final Western Conference wild-card spot currently held by the Wild, who were idle. The Hawks, who have 14 games remaining, have a game in hand on the Wild.
The Stars hold the first wild-card spot but are just one point ahead of the Wild and are by no means postseason locks.
DeBrincat's goal, his 37th, with 36 seconds left in the first, was the game-winner. Patrick Kane had an assist on the goal to move within three of his second career 100-point season.
Earlier, Kampf scored his fourth of the season and first in 32 games dating to Nov. 24 while on a 2-on-1 break with Chris Kunitz. The pair put together a sweet give-and-go before Kampf sent a shot past goalie Anton Khudobin to make it 1-0.
Crawford gave up the tying goal to Alexander Radulov a little over a minute later but he had a strong first period, making a point-blank save on Jason Dickinson and later stopping a Tyler Seguin tip-in attempt with a quick move to his left.
The Hawks nearly padded their lead late in the second when Kane's blind, backhanded pass to Dominik Kahun in the slot seemed to find him with an open net, but Khudobin managed to make the save.
The Stars committed the only three penalties _ both for delay of game _ including one with 4:33 left in the third. DeBrincat nearly put the Hawks up 3-1 on the power play, but his wrist shot from the slot hit the post.
