Asked why the Coyotes, who have won four of six games against the Stars this season, seems to frustrate his team, Tippett replied:

"They work hard."

With the Stars losing two straight games and being able to muster just one goal in each, Tippett talked about getting back to work.

"We've got to find that working identity again," he said. "Every goal is not going to he a highlight film."

There weren't many highlights for the Stars against the Coyotes, who were superb defensively. They got bodies, sticks or whatever they could in front of pucks. What got to the net, Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov mopped up efficiently.

"Give them all the credit in the world for blocking the shots. But some of it is the desperation on our part to find the shooting lane, not just here's the shot, I'll take the shot," said Tippett. "It's going that extra mile to make sure that shot gets through."

The Stars power play, which was 0-7 in Saturday's loss to Nashville, was 0-4 on this night. It missed on two early chances in the first period and created very little. That was a momentum boost for the Coyotes, who scored about four minutes after killing off the second one.

"The key was when we killed those two penalties in the first period," Bryzgalov said. "That gave us a boost and we kept it going."

If there was one bright spot in the game for the Stars it was the fourth line of Brad Winchester, Stu Barnes and the just called up Toby Petersen. It was probably the team's best line in the game and produced the Stars' only goal late in the second when Barnes made a good play in the defensive zone to spring Petersen and Winchester on a two-on-one that Winchester finished off by knocking home a rebound.

"They played with that energy we were looking for," said Tippett.

But other than the energy that trio brought it was another lackluster effort for the Stars, who have dropped two straight games and been able to muster just one goal in each game.

"The last two games have been frustrating," Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. "We haven't had the intensity to win these hard hockey games."

Tippett said they'll need to get that intensity back as they get ready to face the Colorado Avalanche in a home-and-home series this weekend.

"If we don't regain it we are going to get spanked," Tippett said.

But it wasn't the same shoulder he had surgery on back in December and kept him out on the lineup 38 games.

Just after the opening faceoff, Phoenix forward Craig Weller nailed Boucher with a hard hit near the Dallas bench. Boucher left the ice immediately and did not return.

"It's not the one he had surgery on," said Stars coach DaveTippett. "He'll be re-evaluated tomorrow, but he's on a week-to-week probably. Early indications are week-to-week."