DALLAS (AP) -- The Boston Bruins are still seeking their first victory, but the outlook isn't totally bleak.

At least the Bruins were able to pick up a 2-2 road tie with the defending Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars on Friday night.

	Steve Heinze and his Bruins teammates came within minutes of their first win Friday.

"We deserved a better fate," said Bruins coach Pat Burns after his team outshot the Stars, 34-23. "That's how things seem to be going for us this season. But our effort was good night and if we continue to do that, we'll win our share of games."

The Bruins are 0-4-3, their worst start since 1964-65 when they opened at 0-8-1.

"We played good enough to win," said Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque, who had a goal and an assist. "We had two strong periods (the first and second when Boston held a 30-8 shots-on-goal advantage). But looking good doesn't do a lot for you. So you take the point and move on. We did a lot of good things tonight."

Dallas turned up its energy level in the third period, outshooting Boston, 14-3. The Stars got the tying goal from Mike Modano with less than six minutes left in regulation.

Linemate Brett Hull skated from the left circle to the net, drawing the defense and flipping a cross-ice pass to Modano, who lifted the puck over fallen Bruins goaltender Robbie Tallas for Modano's third goal with 5:44 to play.

"It (the third period) was a good one for us, probably our only bright spot," said Modano. "To that point we played a bad game. We've been in a bit of a funk. We're trying to get our emotion back."

Dallas had a chance for the victory, but Richard Matvichuk's shot hit the left goalpost with 27 seconds left in regulation.

The Stars (4-2-1) haven't been the same gritty team that won its first Stanley Cup last June. They're trying to show more skill, and in the process, they haven't been as physical.

"Skill can only take you so far," said Stars coach Ken Hitchcock. "We're trying to do too much with the puck. We need to work harder rather than playing with more skill. We're not handling (last season's) success very well right now."

In the second period, Bourque scored the tying goal and set up a goal by Dave Andreychuk that gave the Bruins a 2-1 advantage.

Dallas got the only goal of the first period at 2:07 when Jere Lehtinen scored his second, converting Pavel Patera's centering pass. Goaltender Ed Belfour kept the Stars upright as they were outshot in the opening period, 17-5.

Boston outshot Dallas in the second period, 13-3. Bourque's second goal of the season at 10:41 tied it at 1. Then Andreychuk gave the Bruins the lead at 17:44 when he deflected Bourque's shot past Belfour on a Boston power play.

The Stars were heavily booed by the sellout Reunion Arena crowd as they exited the ice after the second period.