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Timonen scores twice as Predators edge Stars

Mar 18, 2007 - 5:43 AM NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Defenseman Kimmo Timonen's first multi-goal game of the season came at a great time for the Nashville Predators.

Timonen scored twice and notched the game-winning goal as the Predators posted a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars to snap a two-game losing streak.

Jordin Tootoo also scored a goal and goaltender Tomas Vokoun made 34 saves for Nashville (47-20-6), which took a one-point lead over the Detroit Red Wings (45-18-9) for the top spot in the Western Conference and the Central Division.

Timonen scored the winner when his slap shot from the right point beat screened goaltender Marty Turco with just eight seconds left in the second period.

"The second one was a lucky goal," Timonen said. "It was kind of a sinker."

Dallas' Mike Modano scored twice, including his 503rd career goal, making him the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history. He surpassed Joey Mullen's mark of 502.

"I've been feeling good, and I have been getting a lot of opportunities," Modano said. "I didn't care how it came, I am just glad that it did. It's a little disappointing to get it in a loss, though."

Modano's first goal tied the game at 1-1 when he blasted a shot from the left faceoff dot through Vokoun's pads at 10:54 of the second period.

The center extend his goals streak to four games when he one-timed a shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle to slice Nashville's lead to 3-2 with just under three minutes left in the third period.

Turco made 21 saves for the Stars (42-24-5), who remained two points behind the San Jose Sharks (44-25-3) and nine in back of the first-place Anaheim Ducks (43-17-12) in the Pacific Division.

The game was marred by an ugly incident late in the third period. After Tootoo nailed Modano with what appeared to be a clean check, Dallas' Stephane Robidas took offense and charged at Tootoo, who spun around and punched him in the face.

Robidas lay prone on the ice for 10 minutes before being removed on a stretcher with his head and neck immobilized.

"He came to," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "He's at the hospital, and he's probably got a bit of a headache, but other than that I think that he will be all right."

"From what we've heard, it seems like he is wide awake at the hospital and talking and alert," Modano said. "Obviously, that's a good sign. The type of game we play, those things happen."