Modano tallies late to lift Stars to seventh straight
Mike Modano’s power-play goal was all Dallas needed to secure the win.
(Monday, February 11th)
Final Score: Dallas 2, Phoenix 1
Dallas, TXÂ - Mike Modano’s power-play goal late in the third period lifted the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in the front end of a home-and-home series at American Airlines Center.
Steve Ott scored the other goal while Jere Lehtinen had the primary assists on both goals for the Stars, who have a franchise-tying seven-game winning streak. Marty Turco stopped 19 shots in the win.
“Those games can be mentally taxing and it’s tough to keep with it,” said Turco. “But I was glad we did and got the goals we needed to take the win.”
Dallas now has 75 points and holds a six-point lead over San Jose and Anaheim for first place in the Pacific Division.
Niko Kapanen scored the lone goal, while Ilja Bryzgalov stopped 42 shots in the loss for the Coyotes, who have dropped four straight and six of their last seven.
“I played a very good game last night, but unlucky goals and bounces tonight,” said Bryzgalov. “We were so close to winning the game. I don’t know, the penalties, I guess the team was tired.”
These teams will meet in Phoenix on Thursday.
Trailing, 1-0 in the third period, Dallas tied the game at the 11:45 mark of the frame as Ott blasted a slap per from the slot that deflected off of a Phoenix player and got past Bryzgalov.
A holding penalty to Steve Reinprecht was followed by a delay of game penalty on Zbynek Michalek for shooting the puck over the glass to give Dallas 39 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play.
The team capitalized on the advantage, as Lehtinen had the disc at the left circle and sent it to the slot, where Modano blasted a one-timer with 3:12 to play and the team kept Phoenix at bay to hold on for the win.
The Coyotes grabbed a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal 6:59 into the contest. Ed Jovanovski blasted a shot from the left point that was blocked in front. The puck stayed in the slot and Joel Perrault grabbed it and swept it over to the right side, where Kapanen swept it into the net.
Bryzgalov made 10 saves in the first frame to keep Dallas off the board.
Dallas dominated the second period and had 19 shots to go along with three power plays in the frame, but Bryzgalov stood tall and turned aside every shot thrown his way
Game Notes
Each team has won two games in the series this season…Dallas went 1-for-6 on the power play while Phoenix went 1-for-3…It is Dallas’ first seven-game winning streak since November 22-December 5, 1997…Modano also had an assist in the game.
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