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Modano's overtime goal lifts Stars over Kings

Mar 12, 2007 - 4:48 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Mike Modano's first game-winning goal in more than three months came at a crucial time.

Modano's goal in overtime - his 499th career tally - lifted the Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Dallas (40-23-5) has 85 points and reamined tied with the San Jose Sharks for second place, 10 points behind the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division.

The Stars' victory gave them their ninth 40-win season in their last 10 campaigns.

Modano netted the decisive tally when he took a pass from defenseman Sergei Zubov at center ice, sped into the slot and snapped a shot over goaltender Sean Burke's glove 35 seconds into the extra session.

"It was a good pass and it took me a second or two to get it to my forehand," Modano said. "I was just holding my stride a little bit to create some space, and that gave me a second to shoot."

"He just beat me with the shot," Burke said. "I saw him cutting to the middle and I tracked him as far as I could. He just beat me."

The goal was Modano's first game-winner since he tallied in a 1-0 triumph over the San Jose Sharks on December 4.

"He's got to concentrate on doing the things within the game that he's good at," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "He has to help our team win, and the points will come."

Modano missed 23 straight games in December and January with a hip injury and scored just once in 13 games after returning, but has three tallies in his last five contests.

"I felt good out there, as good as it has in a long time, back to where it was before the injury," Modano said. "That gives me a little bit of confidence to get up and down the ice better and make some things happen."

The 17-year veteran has 14 goals this season and needs three to tie Joe Mullen for the career lead among American-born players.

Zubov had three assists and netminder Marty Turco made 18 saves for Dallas, which has won two straight after four consecutive losses.

Turco has won all five starts, allowing just nine goals, against Los Angeles this season. Dustin Brown scored twice and Burke made 30 saves for Los Angeles, which has lost five straight contests.

"I thought our effort was terrific," Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford said. "We were the harder working team, but we didn't get what we deserved."

Brown had his second multi-goal game this season. He tallied twice in a 5-3 loss to the Stars on November 24.