Modano Weekly Wrap-Up: Tuesday, December 17
As the Stars embark on an important first-half road trip this week, the house
seems to be in order after two impressive wins following a disappointing home
loss against Los Angeles to start the week. Mike Modano remains in the top
six in NHL scoring with 34 points. With regular left winger, Ulf Dahlen,
sidelined with an injury, Jere Lehtinen played with Modano and Bill Guerin
against Los Angeles and Brenden Morrow played on the left side against Atlanta
and Chicago.
Wednesday, December 11 vs. Los Angeles (L, 0-3)
Stat line:
Plus/minus: -1
19:21 of ice time, 21 shifts
6:08
power play
2:30 shorthanded
14 of 18 faceoffs won (77%)
Two shots
on goal
Notes:
• Modano vs. Los Angeles, career: 52 games, 24 goals, 33
assists, 57 points
• Before the Dahlen injury, Dallas’ top line was the
third best scoring line in the NHL.
• The Kings don’t have a face-off
answer for Modano this year as he is a combined 33 of 44 (75%) in two games this
season against LA.
• This was the third straight shutout of the Stars by
the Kings dating back to their last meeting of the 2001-2002 season and the
first game of this season last month.
Friday, December 13 vs. Atlanta (W, 3-1)
Stat line:
Empty net goal
Plus/minus: +2
25:32 of ice time, 27
shifts
2:51 power play
3:29 shorthanded
16 of 26 faceoffs
won (61%)
Five shots on goal
Notes:
• Modano vs. Atlanta, career: Six games, three goals, three
points
• Modano’s empty netter followed a blocked shot by No. 9 and
attempted set-up for Jason Arnott.
Sunday, December 15 at Chicago (W, 5-0)
Stat line:
One assist
Plus/minus: +1
22:01 of ice time, 27
shifts
5:00 power play
0:31 shorthanded
11 of 25 faceoffs
won (44%)
Two shots on goal
Notes:
• Modano vs. Chicago, career: 72 games, 26 goals, 35 assists,
62 points
• Modano’s assist on Darryl Sydor’s goal came after he won a
face-off, grabbed the puck and dished it back to Sydor for the first score of
the game.
Quotes:
“I think if you look around, it is a little different. Players
obviously have taken different roles over their careers, but you can see in them
the skill that has always been there. It just comes out a little easier
because it’s always been there. It can wear on you. Maybe not even the
pressure of the game so much as all the other stuff. You obviously have to
prove it on the ice every year. Be consistent. That’s the way to
really show what you can do. And having guys who have had to do that every
year since they were 16, it helps. You kind of know that they’ve been
through the same thing you have.”
Modano on the fact that Dallas boasts
10 former first-round draft picks on its roster from Kirk Muller in 1984 to
Manny Malhotra in 1998. Dallas is tied with San Jose for the most
first-rounders on a current NHL roster.
The Week Ahead
Tuesday, December 17 at Philadelphia (Ch. 27, 6:00)
Thursday, December 19
at Detroit (ESPN, 7:00)
Saturday, December 21 at New Jersey (FOX,
12:00)
Sunday, December 22 at Carolina (FSN, 12:30)