| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Stars said Mike Modano's bad back was
100 percent. If there was any doubt, it wasn't evident on Saturday
night.
Modano scored a power-play goal and added an assist, and Ed
Belfour recorded his first shutout of the season as the Dallas
Stars blanked the Washington Capitals 3-0.
Modano left the Stars' game with the Carolina Hurricanes on
Tuesday night with a lower back strain, and has been listed
day-to-day since. But his play against the struggling Capitals left
little doubt how he was feeling.
"I was more concerned with draws and traffic," Modano said.
"And I felt a lot better as the game went on."
Stars goalie Ed Belfour continued his strong play, as he stopped
all 12 Capitals shots for his 50th career shutout.
The Stars did some tinkering before Saturday's game, and came
out with a first line featuring Modano centering Jamie
Langenbrunner and Jere Lehtinen. Right Brett Hull joined Joe
Nieuwendyk on the second line.
The lineup paid dividends as Langenbrunner also had a goal and
an assist, Nieuwendyk had a goal set up by Hull, and Lehtinen
assisted on Langenbrunner's.
"We have identification with our lines," Stars coach Ken
Hitchcock said. "Modano's line is best when they're going to
check, and we had six or seven opportunities (to score) because we
checked. Hull with Nieuwendyk, they're good at establishing offense
off the rush."
Langenbrunner's play might have been inspired by family.
Langenbrunner's wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to their first son,
Landon, on Friday. He assisted on Modano's power-play goal early in
the first period, then converted a wrister with 37 seconds left in
the second.
While the Stars are shaking off their early-season rust, the
Capitals are still mired in a scoring slump. Washington (0-3-2) has
scored just eight goals in five games this season. The Capitals'
schedule hasn't helped, as they've played three games in four
nights.
"We've just got to get a break and relax," Capitals coach Ron
Wilson said. "Until we catch a break, we have to keep doing what
we're doing."
Team turmoil has also caused havoc. Right wing Peter Bondra has
made no secret about wanting a trade, and reportedly vetoed a
Montreal deal. After the game, Bondra gave an initial "no
comment" to the trade talk, then walked away when it came up
again.
The Capitals had an opportunity for a goal early in the third
period. In a fray in front of the Stars' goal, Richard Zednik got a
loose puck in the crease and pushed it across the line. But the
referees ruled a whistle had blown, nullifying the goal.
Olaf Kolzig, in just his second game of the season, stopped 17
of 20 shots. But unlike his counterpart Belfour, Kolzig got little
support from his team. Kolzig remembers the Capitals going on a
similar skid early last year before recovering for a playoff run.
"We were like this until Christmas last year," Kolzig said.
"I'd like to turn it around sooner than Dec. 27, but we've showed
that, when everybody's on the same page, we're one of the best
teams. But the Stars suffocate you. They don't give you many
opportunities. We just need a spark."
Belfour was that again for the Stars. Despite having to make up
for early team mistakes, Belfour made his job look relatively easy.
Hitchcock said Belfour's exceptional play has become expected.
"That's taking things for granted, but he's a pretty good
hammer to have," Hitchcock said. "He hangs us in there. Like a
lot of other goalies, he has no problem with scrambling
activity."
Game notes
The Capitals have not won in Dallas since Oct. 17, 1995.
... Right wing Jon Sim (broken left shoulder blade) and center
Shaun Van Allen (back) were out for the Stars.
| |
ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Montreal 5
Chicago 4
Calgary 2
NY Islanders 0
Ottawa 4
Toronto 0
New Jersey 4
Anaheim 2
Pittsburgh 8
NY Rangers 6
Dallas 3
Washington 0
Nashville 2
Carolina 1
Colorado 3
Columbus 1
Phoenix 6
Philadelphia 3
Vancouver 4
Buffalo 0
San Jose 5
Boston 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mike Modano scores the power-play goal.
avi: 472 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
