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)