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Modano scores twice as Stars edge Islanders

Nov 27, 2007 - 4:52 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Mike Modano could care less about style points. All he knows is that his Dallas Stars are red-hot.

Modano scored two goals, including the game-winner just moments into overtime, as the Stars overcame a sluggish start and allowing the tying goal with less than three minutes left in regulation to edge the New York Islanders, 3-2, on Monday.

The most prolific American-born scorer in the NHL, Modano picked up a rebound on a shot by Stephane Robidas right in front and buried it into an open net just 35 seconds into the extra period.

"I'd rather play (crappy) and win and win than play great and lose," Modano said.

The game-winner sealed the second multi-goal game of the season for the 37-year-old, who helped Dallas improve to 6-0-1 since firing general manager Doug Armstrong on November 13 and replacing him with Brett Hull and Les Jackson.

Modano has been a key contributor in that surge, a surprising fact especially after the center managed just 43 points in 59 games last season.

However, Modano has been riding high so far in his 18th season, collecting eight goals and 17 points in 24 games.

The Islanders were able to send the contest into overtime in surprising fashion, ending their struggles on the power play after Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen was whistled for a holding penalty with just under three minutes remaining.

Miroslav Satan netted the clutch goal for New York, picking up a rebound off a shot by Marc-Andre Bergeron near the left faceoff circle and firing a wrist shot to the far post past Marty Turco with 2:38 remaining.

Satan's sixth tally of the season ended a slump where the Islanders were just 1-for-29 with the man advantage.

"After that goal the bench was alive. We felt we had the momentum," Satan said. "They scored on the first shift. That killed the momentum."

The Stars were not phased by the tying goal and dominated play in the final minutes of regulation and overtime, putting the pressure on Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro.

"There was a lot of movement and the puck came to me," Modano said.

New York coach Ted Nolan seemed content with the point and knew his team was outplayed in the extra session.

"They made a great play and the puck went to one of the most skilled players in the history of the game," Nolan said.

Modano tied the score at 1-1 midway through the second period when he took a centering pass from Niklas Hagman and beat DiPietro with a low wrist shot.

The Stars appeared as if they would continue their winning ways in regulation after a fortuitous deflection allowed veteran Jeff Halpern to collect his fifth goal of the season and 100th of his career 6:07 into the third.

"That's the way we do it in practice," Halpern joked about the lucky play.

Richard Park got the opening score for New York, tallying a shorthanded goal 9:07 into the second.

Shortly after Bill Guerin went off for holding, Turco came way out of the ice and tried to beat Park to the puck at the top of the right circle. Park got their first, skated around the goaltender and put a backhander into the net.

"You can have a little chuckle about that," Turco said of his mistake that ultimately did not prove costly. "That's the M.O. of our team, not get too down. You win more games when you play (aggressively) like that."

After Mike Smith was sensational in a win over the New York Rangers on Sunday, Turco posted 23 saves en route to posting consecutive wins for the first time in five games.

DiPietro had 28 saves for New York, which continued to struggle offensively. The Islanders have scored just 15 goals in their last nine games and no more than two goals in any game in that stretch.