Dallas unbeaten in nine straight games

 

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Game Information

Arena: American Airlines Center Location: Dallas, Texas

Referees: KevinPollock, PaulStewart Linesmen: MikeCvik, RandyMitton

Attendance: 18,532 (100.0% full)

Team Stat Comparison
251	Goals	245
194	Goals Against	169
68	Power Play Goals	62
63	Power Play Goals Allowed	50
5	Shorthanded Goals	9
6	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	6
1084	Penalty Minutes	1166
13	Average Penalty Minutes	14

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			COL	DAL
10:58		Bill Guerin Assists: Mike Modano, Philippe Boucher	0	1
2ND PERIOD			COL	DAL
2:16		Milan Hejduk Assists: Steve Reinprecht, Greg de Vries	1	1
6:52		Mike Modano Assists: Bill Guerin, Derian Hatcher	1	2
7:37		Brenden Morrow Assists: Rob DiMaio, Darryl Sydor	1	3
17:00		Niko Kapanen Assists: Brenden Morrow, Rob DiMaio	1	4
3RD PERIOD			COL	DAL
0:41		Rob Blake (Power Play) Assists: Derek Morris, Joe Sakic	2	4
3:18		Jason Arnott (Power Play) Assists: Pierre Turgeon, Sergei Zubov	2	5
10:36		Joe Sakic (Power Play) Assists: Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk	3	5
18:26		Mike Modano (Empty net) Unassisted	3	6

DALLAS (AP) -- When the Dallas Stars signed Bill Guerin, they hoped he and Mike Modano would become one of the league's best scoring tandems. They've done just that.

	Guerin

On a day Guerin and Modano were named All-Star starters for the first time, the duo set each other up for early goals, carrying the league-leading Dallas Stars past Colorado 6-3 Saturday and stretching their season-best unbeaten streak to nine games.

Guerin scored off a nice drop pass from Modano, then Modano put Guerin's pass in the net. The second goal, which put Dallas ahead for good, came less than a minute after the All-Star picks were announced in the arena. Fans responded with a standing ovation.

"It was a good afternoon all the way around," said Modano, who also capped the scoring with an empty netter with 1:34 left and moved within an assist of tying the franchise record.

Guerin and Modano mostly have played together this season, but they were separated the previous game. They started this game apart, then scored almost immediately after being reunited.

To that point, Dallas had taken only two weak shots. Then Modano charged into the zone and left the puck for Guerin, who got it past a charging Patrick Roy.

"That's why he's Mike Modano. He makes plays like that," Guerin said.

Roy was selected to his 11th All-Star game, but allowed four goals for a third straight game. He was pulled after two periods, having stopped only 13 of 17 shots. He gave up three goals in the second period, including two 55 seconds apart, helping the Stars increase their NHL-best point total to 61.

"I didn't make the big saves, and I deserved to be at the end of the bench in the third period," Roy said. "My confidence doesn't get shaky. I feel good physically."

The Stars, who have seven wins and two ties during their current run, have scored 17 goals in their last three games. They have points in 19 of their 20 home games.

But it all gets put on hold now. Dallas doesn't play again until Saturday in San Jose.

"We want to play tomorrow. But we've played the most games in the Western Conference, so the break comes at a good time," said coach Dave Tippett, who is giving players Sunday and Monday off.

Colorado lost its third straight and fourth in five games, falling to 6-5-0-1 under new coach Tony Granato. After blowing a two-goal lead at home in the previous game, the Avs were expecting a better effort.

"It's as low as we've been all year," said defenseman Rob Blake, also an All-Star starter. "We hit a stretch where we put some numbers up, but now we've fallen back into the old pattern of getting outplayed by a better team. It was a measuring-stick game, and they outplayed us."

Dallas missed the playoffs last season, then made the signing of Guerin the centerpiece of an offseason overhaul.

Guerin leads the team in goals and penalty minutes, and is second to Modano in points. Modano leads the team in assists.

"I've tried not to put too much pressure on my myself," Guerin said. "But I think expectations come with a big contract. I feel a responsibility to myself, my teammates and the club."

Modano and Guerin are the first players in franchise history to be voted All-Stars since fan balloting began in 1986. Modano will be going to the game for the fifth time and Guerin for the second. Guerin was the MVP of the 2001 game.

Roy was beaten on rebounds by Brenden Morrow and Niko Kapanen. Jason Arnott scored a power-play goal off backup David Aebischer early in the third period.

Colorado's Milan Hejduk made it 1-1 early in the second period, scoring his 12th goal in 17 games after great stickhandling by Steven Reinprecht got goaltender Marty Turco leaning the wrong way.

Blake and Joe Sakic scored power-play goals in the third period. Dallas had killed 14 of 15 penalties against Colorado this season before then.

Game notes
Dallas defenseman Richard Matvichuk broke a bone in his left leg while blocking a shot. He'll be out four-to-six weeks. ... The Stars' arena hosts the U.S. Figure Skating Championships so they aren't home again until Jan. 22.