Dallas Stars Krystofer Barch (L) and St. Louis Blues Cam Janssen exchange blows during their fight in the first period at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 2, 2011. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Dallas Stars’ goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped 28 shots as the Blues let a 2-1 third period lead slip away into a 4-2 defeat on Sunday.

Alex Steen and David Backes scored for the Blues. Steen has a team-high 13 goals, nine in the last 16 games. The Blues were 12-2-1 when leading after two periods, but Brendan Morrow scored his second goal of night 2:28 into the third period and Brad Richards added his team-high 18th goal and his third game winner of the season.

The loss came on the one year anniversary of coach Davis Payne getting the job after the Blues fired coach Andy Murray last year.