DALLAS -- Trevor Daley wore a cowboy hat with a Dallas Stars logo and smiled through a swollen lip from a puck he took to the face a couple of nights earlier. Six years of waiting are finally over for the Dallas defenceman. Daley had a goal and an assist, Kari Lehtonen recorded his fifth shutout of the season, and the Stars clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Blues on Friday night. "Im having trouble smiling, and I just cant stop smiling right now," said Daley, who took 20 stitches after a loss to Columbus on Wednesday. "Weve been battling hard for a long time. Its just kind of like a little bit of a relief." The Stars missed the post-season a franchise-record five straight seasons after never going more than one without a playoff trip since moving to Dallas in 1993. The longest previous drought was three seasons in Minnesota in the early 1970s. St. Louis, outshot 40-22, dropped its fifth straight game for the first time since February of last year. The playoff-bound Blues also had their hopes of being the top seed in the Western Conference dashed. "They played a very fast game ... very desperate," Blues defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "They played to get into the playoffs and they really showed it, and we need to get more of that into our game, as well." Daley, the only holdover from the team that lost to Detroit in the Western Conference finals six years ago, and Lehtonen were on the ice three years ago for a season-ending loss at Minnesota when Dallas just needed to win to move on. Dallas victory eliminated Phoenix in the race for the Wests final playoff spot and kept the Stars from having to worry about a potential win-or-go-home game at the Coyotes on Sunday. "Im old enough that I dont think about those kinds of things too much," Lehtonen said. "Not too much was needed from me. Our guys outshot them two to one and put the pucks in the net, so that made it a lot easier for me." Daley put Dallas up 1-0 when he stole the puck during a series of St. Louis turnovers and raced ahead of everyone before beating Ryan Miller on the glove side early in the second period. Tyler Seguins team-leading 37th goal came on the power play 10 seconds after the Blues Dmitrij Jaskin was called for hooking. Daley sent a pass to Jamie Benn, who zipped his second assist through the crease to an open Seguin for an easy shot past Miller. After Ryan Garbutt tipped in Alex Goligoskis shot from the point in the third period of the home finale, the last 15 minutes were basically a celebration for the sellout crowd that included a fan with a No. 99 jersey that read "Stanley" -- a reference to the franchises only Stanley Cup title in 1999 when the hockey playoffs were a rite of spring in North Texas. St. Louis didnt get a power play until the third period and couldnt convert on two chances with the man advantage in the final 12 minutes. After the Stars killed the last one, the crowd stood and cheered for the final two minutes, counting down the last few seconds. "I thought the atmosphere was just playoff-like," said Lindy Ruff, the former Buffalo coach brought in by first-year general manager Jim Nill, who got quite a present for his 56th birthday. "The energy, after the third goal went in, its like everybody else took a breath too, We got some breathing room; Order me another beer!" The Blues knew T.J. Oshie would be sidelined after he took a hit to the head that resulted in a four-game suspension for Minnesotas Mike Rupp. They also missed former Stars captain Brenden Morrow, who injured his foot in practice before the Wild game, and Vladimir Sobotka and Derek Roy, who got hurt during that game. St. Louis lost centre Patrik Berglund to an apparent arm injury in the third period against the Stars. NOTES: Taylor Lipsett, a Dallas-area resident who won a 2014 Paralympic gold medal with the U.S. in Sochi, was honoured before the game. ... The Stars signed popular broadcasters Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh to contract extensions. Strangis, the play-by-play voice, has been with the franchise since it was still in Minnesota, and colour analyst Reaugh is in his 18th season with the team. ... Because of the rash of injuries, the Blues recalled Adam Cracknell, Keith Aucoin and Ty Rattie from their Chicago AHL affiliate. Balenciaga Outlet Italia . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. Vapormax Scontate . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. Never got sick or hurt while frolicking in the fields of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. http://www.scontateoutletairmax.it/air-max-97-economiche.html . The question all fans want to know heading into this light heavyweight affair is will Rua display his true potential. Working with UFC welterweight fighter Demian Maias team in Sao Paulo Brazil and having training partners such as fellow UFC stand outs Fabio Maldonado and Daniel Sarafian, the 32-year old feels very well prepared for Friday nights encounter. Air Max 90 Outlet Italia . Inter moved five points behind fourth-place Fiorentina and eight points behind third-place Napoli, which visits relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday. Vapormax Outlet Italia . -- Canadas Nicole Vandermade won the Four Winds Invitational on Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives.The New York Jets quarterback was fined $12,000 by the NFL on Friday for cursing at a fan after the teams game against Detroit last Sunday.Smith was walking off the field following the 24-17 defeat when he glared at a heckler in the stands and yelled at him, twice using an expletive. The fine issued by the league was for unsportsmanlike conduct.The second-year quarterback immediately apologized after the game, but acknowledged during the week that he would likely be fined for his actions. Cleveland rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel received a similar fine from the league during the preseason for flipping his middle finger at Washingtons sideline.Always be above the situation, Smith said Wednesday. Never let people get to you. Never let anyones words affect you in that manner. So Ive just learned, and its something Ive already known, but (Ive) just got to handle those situations better.Smith has declined to say what the fan said to him that set him off. Owner Woody Johnson said Thursday he was disappointed by Smiths actions, ssaying they were absolutely unacceptable.dddddddddddd But, he also was confident Smith would never again put himself in a similar situation.Coach Rex Ryan wouldnt say whether Smith would face additional discipline from the team.Well handle it the way we see appropriate, Ryan said. And again, when were ready to let you know what our decision is, well let you know.Pittsburgh defensive lineman Cameron Heyward also got in trouble with his mouth, docked $22,050 for using abusive language toward an official during the Steelers loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.Houstons J.J. Watt was fined $16,537 for roughing the passer against Buffalo. The star defensive end was called for penalties twice after hitting Bills quarterback EJ Manuel in the knee area.San Diego left tackle King Dunlap and Jacksonville defensive end Alan Branch were each fined $8,268 for their fight during the Chargers 33-14 win last Sunday.Chicago guard Kyle Long was also docked $8,268 for unnecessary roughness in the Bears loss to the Green Bay Packers.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '