• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Modano scores 500th goal as Stars edge Flyers

Mar 14, 2007 - 6:01 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- In reaching a milestone, Mike Modano gave the Dallas Stars a victory.

Modano became the 39th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals, netting what proved to be the winner 9 1/2 minutes into the third period as the Stars posted a 3-2 victory over the lowly Philadelphia Flyers.

Jussi Jokinen had a goal and an assist and Jere Lehtinen also tallied for the Stars (41-23-5), who climbed within eight points of the idle Anaheim Ducks (42-17-11) for first place in the Pacific Division.

The star of the night, however, was Modano, a Michigan native who joined Hall of Famer Joey Mullen as the only American-born players to reach 500 goals. Mullen tallied 502 times in 1,062 career games.

"Well, we've been through a lot," Modano said of both he and the franchise. "Dallas kind of resurrected my career. The goal was something I wanted to get over with and get it done here in Dallas. It's certainly good to get it done at home."

Boston-born Jeremy Roenick of the Phoenix Coyotes has seven goals this season and is nine away from joining the 500 club.

Modano netted his 81st career game-winner and second in as many games just 34 seconds after Jokinen snapped a 1-1 tie.

"It hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will tonight when I get in bed," Modano said. "A lot of thoughts go through your mind, a lot of people who had a hand in helping you getting to those numbers 18 years ago, a lot of guys who helped get my career going."

After Antii Miettinen fired a shot that bounced off goaltender Antero Niittymaki, Modano gathered the rebound on his stick, fought off defenseman Joni Pitkanen and buried it at 9:36 for his fourth goal in six games and a 3-1 lead.

"That's the way I drew it up at home," Modano joked. "I don't really care how it went in, off my knee, a deflection, whatever, and it turned out being meaningful as we got a little scare there at the end."

"Obviously, I was there with Mike for 12 years, and that's a long time," said Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher, a former captain of the Stars. "We had some bad times and a lot of good times, and through that, you get to know one another pretty good. I'm excited for him."

Jokinen had put Dallas ahead when he skated down the right side and cut to the slot before wristing the puck past the glove of Niittymaki.

Rookie Mike Smith stopped 17 shots for the Stars, who have won three straight games.

"I thought Smith was good," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "That was a tough game to play in. Going into the third period, I think he only had 12 or 13 shots on him, but there were still pucks bouncing around him. The Flyers hung around and he made a good save with four seconds left."

Pitkanen and Scottie Upshall scored and Mike Richards added two assists for Philadelphia, which remained the only team in the NHL without at least 20 victories.

"Dallas moves the puck around as good as any team in the league," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "They spread us out pretty good, but I thought we got better as the game went on. I was glad to see we had fight right to the end."