Modano Weekly Wrap-Up: Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Mike Modano continued his red-hot play this past week helping the Stars gain five of a possible six points with a 2-0-1 record on the road in Western Canada.  Entering the road trip, Modano led the team in points with nine and maintained that lead at the end of the trip after posting three goals and an assist.  Through 10 games last year, Modano had three goals and four points, while in 10 games this season he has five goals and 14 points.  Brenden Morrow remained on Modano’s left wing for the three-game trip with Ulf Dahlen on his right side against Calgary and Bill Guerin on the right side against Vancouver and Edmonton.

Thursday, October 24 at Calgary (T, 3-3)

Stat line:
One goal
Plus/minus: -1
25:06 of ice time, 31 shifts
 4:50 power play
 2:14 shorthanded
22 of 35 faceoffs won (62%)
Three shots on goal

Notes:
• Mike provided an instant “highlight-reel” moment for the Stars and the NHL with an outstanding goal at the 17:38 mark of the second period built solely around his blazing speed.  After taking a pass at his own blue line, Modano turned on the jets and sped around two Calgary defenders before gliding past a sprawling Roman Turek to slide the puck inside the left post.
• Mike won 6 of 11 faceoffs in the first period while the rest of the team struggled by winning only 5 of 14.

Quotes:
“(Modano) beat (the defender) like a rented mule and then took (Roman) Turek to task.  If you want a little exhibition of what the league can be like if there is room in the neutral zone, that was it.  He’s a nightmare to defensemen when he gets that speed going and the No. 9 flapping.”
  Stars color analyst, Daryl Reaugh, after Modano’s second-period goal

“One of the great assets in the game is speed and that was speed at its finest.”
  Stars head coach Dave Tippett on Modano’s second-period goal

Saturday, October 26 at Vancouver (W, 4-1)

Stat line:
One empty net, shorthanded goal
One assist
Plus/minus: +3
21:27 of ice time, 27 shifts
 5:00 power play
 2:22 shorthanded
8 of 26 faceoffs won (30%)
Four shots on goal

Notes:
• Modano assisted on Brenden Morrow’s second goal of the evening with a pass to Guerin who fed the puck down low to Morrow for the score.
• Modano faced intense pressure all night from Trevor Linden who he has competed against since they were 16-year-olds in the WHL.  Modano and Linden were the top two picks, respectively, in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
• As part of the popular “Backyard” sports series for kids, PC game developer, Humongous Entertainment, debuts “Backyard Hockey” this week with Mike Modano featured on the box cover.  Modano is one of 10 NHL players that kids can compete as on their computer.  For more information and to view the cover, link to www.funkidsgames.com/games/byhockey_pc.
• Prior to leaving for the Western Canada road trip, the Dallas Stars team participated in the 6th Annual Bonnie Blair Golf Classic presented by United Service Association for Health Care.  The event was held at The Tribute Golf Club on Monday, October 21.

Quotes:
“Maybe…in mid-July or August, I might.”
  Modano, with a sly smile, when a reporter mentioned at the Bonnie Blair Golf Classic that some of his teammates claimed he had the best golf game on the team

“It’s a good combination for us – we get out of practice and it’s a way for us to help something that is dear to the hearts of Bob Gainey and Bonnie Blair and their families.”
  Modano on the Bonnie Blair Golf Classic

Monday, October 28, 2002 at Edmonton (W, 4-3, OT)

Stat line:
Two goals, including the game-winner in OT
Plus/minus: +1
22:41 of ice time, 32 shifts
 3:17 power play
 2:09 shorthanded
16 of 34 faceoffs won (47%)
Three shots on goal

Notes:
• First goal came at 19:56 of the first period off a Bill Guerin rebound on a pretty spin-around slap shot.
• Second goal won the game for Dallas just 37 seconds into overtime.  After being knocked down in the neutral zone without the puck at the start of OT with no penalty called, a determined Modano made the Oilers pay with a one-timer blast from a Daryl Sydor feed that goaltender Jussi Markkanen had no chance to stop.
• Modano was named No. 1 star of the game by the Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star-Telegram.
• Modano has points in five straight games.
• Four players are wearing the “A” designation as alternate captain this year including previous alternate captains Modano and Sergei Zubov, new acquisition Bill Guerin and Richard Matvichuk who received the honor before the season started.  The original plan was to have more voices involved in team leadership and have Modano and Matvichuk alternate with Zubov and Guerin as the two players serving as alternate captain each game.
• The Stars 6-2-2-0 start after 10 games, with only three at home, equals the same start they had in 1998-99 when they won the Stanley Cup.

Quotes:
“That was an angry goal to win it.  He made them pay.”
  Stars play-by-play announcer, Ralph Strangis, on Modano’s game winner

“The play came about the way you dream it.  Everybody made great plays throughout the shift.”
  Modano on his overtime goal

“He’s a big-time player and he proved it tonight. He was definitely determined.  You saw the way he shot the puck – he didn’t baby it.”
  Bill Guerin on Modano