Mike Modano returns to Dallas as Detroit Red Wings take on the Stars
Mike Modano holds just about every record there is for the Dallas Stars, but the franchise for which Modano played 20 seasons decided it was time for a change and let him go in the off-season. Modano makes his return to Dallas on Thursday night when his
new team, the Detroit Red Wings, take on the Stars.
Previous meetings
Although it was the Red Wings who made it all the way to the conference semi-finals last season, while the Stars failed to even qualify for the play-offs, it was Dallas who won the season series between these two teams winning three out of four games. The
most recent meeting was won by the Stars by a score of 3-2 in a shoot out back on January 16.
How they match up
Modano got his first goal for his new team in his first regular season game when he scored against the Anaheim Ducks, but he hasn't scored since, and was a minus-3 in Tuesday's overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Todd Bertuzzi leads the team in scoring with five points after three games, while Johan Franzen leads the team in goals with three after scoring a pair against the Avs.
Their plus-minus leader Brian Rafalski will be out 3-4 weeks after needing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and has been replaced by Doug Janik.
Leading the way for the Dallas Stars, as always, is Brad Richards who has one goal and three assists from his first two games. The Stars are undefeated so far this season and will be hoping that a recent off-ice incident involving Mike Ribeiro won't cause
too much of a distraction for the team. Ribeiro was arrested on Sunday night for public intoxication.
Team captain Brenden Morrow also has three goals in two games so far this season.
Despite scoring nine goals in their first two games their goaltender Kari Lehtonen has faced 77 shots already, as the Stars have been outshot 77 to 50 so far season. As a result Lehtonen's numbers don't look all that hot, but his two wins have been well
earned.
What to expect
In hockey terms Mike Modano's return to Dallas is about equivalent to Brett Favre returning to Lambeau field to take on the Green Bay Packers, and it could be a very emotional return. If there were ever a time to see the very best of player like Modano it
would be Thursday night. How the fans react to his return could be interesting as well.
Despite Dallas' positive early start to the season they will have to concentrate on limiting Detroit's shots if they are to have any chance of winning. Conceding 30-plus shots to the Red Wings is a death sentence.
Even without Rafalski in the lineup the Red Wings have enough depth on defence and it just means more ice time for the ageless Niklas Lidstrom. With Lidstrom patrolling the blue line the Red Wings will muster their 30 shots and get the win. Red Wings take
it 4-2.
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