Modano got his wish when league officials passed him by for the All-Star Game Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. And while that might not seem like the politically correct thing to do for the PR-starved NHL, Modano is learning in his old age (31) that sometimes he has to be selfish.

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Hockey talk "He's been our best player by far. He brings an element on the ice, in the locker room, on the bench. His presence speaks for itself." -- Blues winger Keith Tkachuk about Scott Mellanby, who has led St. Louis to seven consecutive wins. The number 18 The number of Chicago's home wins. The Blackhawks compiled 14 all of last season. Infirmary report The Avalanche continue to fight through a season of bad luck. The most recent injury is a knee ligament injury for center Steve Reinprecht, who will be out 4-6 weeks. Colorado will move Chris Drury back to center, but they likely are in the market for a dependable No. 2 or No. 3 pivot.

"If the break wasn't so long for us, it might be different," Modano said of an extended All-Star break before the NHL ceases operations for the Olympics and returns for a fierce season-ending schedule.

"We're off for eight days and that's the last chance we'll have this year," he said. "I mean, there's a real opportunity to get away there and sometimes you have to take that."

A glitch in the schedule has the Stars playing at home Jan. 28 and not returning until a road game Feb. 6 in Nashville. It's a tremendous All-Star break. There are a few practices in between, but there's also the chance for Modano to recharge and rest the shoulders on which he has carried this team.

From Dec. 31 to Jan. 16, the Stars went 6-2-0 and climbed back into the race for first place in the Pacific Division. In that span, Dallas scored 19 goals -- nine by Modano. What's more, it was his play that allowed Stars coach Ken Hitchcock to juggle lines around while searching for some new combinations, and it his play every game that convinces Stars players they can score in Hitchcock's system.

"There's no question he's the superstar on this team," Stars winger Brenden Morrow said. "(Without him), I think we'd be fighting for a playoff spot instead of fighting for first place."

Modano's hot streaks are nothing new. He stumbled through the first half of last season and then caught fire in the second half, leading the Stars with 40 points over his last 31 games (18-22-40). He finished the year plus-26 and was a finalist for the Selke Trophy. He also was fourth in voting for the center position on the All-Star Team (meaning the media considered him the fourth best center in the league) after finishing second in voting the year before.

And while all of that is impressive, Modano said he wishes he could just be a little more consistent.

"You look at the numbers and you think if I could just put it all together for an entire season, I could get the 50 goals and 100 points," he said. "But I guess it's not meant to be."

Part of Modano's problem is the suffocating defensive system the Stars play, which requires Modano to be one of the team's top checkers. But that's also the reason Modano is as good as he is. When he came into the league, he was only an offensive mind. Now, he takes key faceoffs, kills penalties, plays gritty and still scores big goals.

"When you watch him every day for eight or 10 years, you really start to realize just how much he does," said assistant coach and former teammate Craig Ludwig.

Modano still can give you the highlight reel goal as he did against the Panthers last week, stealing the puck while killing a 5-on-3 power play and scoring shorthanded. But what's been most impressive is his ability to adapt his game to fit what the Stars need. Newcomer Pierre Turgeon has struggled to fit into the Stars, because none of the wingers can grasp what Turgeon is trying to accomplish on the ice. So Hitchcock switched Turgeon onto Modano's line and now the two have instant chemistry. Turgeon, who likes to set up behind the net or in the corners, is finding Modano in the slot and Modano is scoring on quick shovels or one-timers.

It's an area of the ice he has never before attempted to visit, but he's finding out he can still add new elements to his game.

"He's getting into the nasty areas to score goals," Hitchcock said.

Modano has 26 so far and has a decent shot of hitting 50 for only the second time in his career. He said all he needs is a little rest for a big second-half push.

"It's one of those things where you try not to analyze and think too much," he said. "You try to go with it and ride it as long as it goes."

Even if that ride takes you to the beach every now and then.

Central Division