Game Recap

DALLAS 3, WASHINGTON 0 DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Stars said Mike Modano's bad back was 100 percent. If there was any doubt, it wasn't evident on Saturday night. Modano scored a power-play goal and added an assist, and Ed Belfour recorded his first shutout of the season as the Dallas Stars blanked the Washington Capitals 3-0. Belfour continued his strong play as he stopped all 12 Capitals shots for his 50th career shutout. Modano left the Stars' game with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night with a lower back strain, and has been listed day-to-day since. But his play against the struggling Capitals left little doubt how he was feeling. "I was more concerned with draws and traffic," Modano said. "And I felt a lot better as the game went on." The Stars did some tinkering before Saturday's game, and came out with a first line featuring Modano centering Jamie Langenbrunner and Jere Lehtinen. Right wing Brett Hull joined Joe Nieuwendyk on the second line. The lineup paid dividends as Langenbrunner also had a goal and an assist, Nieuwendyk had a goal set up by Hull, and Lehtinen assisted on Langenbrunner's. "We have identification with our lines," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Modano's line is best when they're going to check, and we had six or seven opportunities (to score) because we checked. Hull with Nieuwendyk, they're good at establishing offense off the rush." Langenbrunner's play might have been inspired by family. Langenbrunner's wife, Elizabeth, gave birth to their first son, Landon, on Friday. He assisted on Modano's power-play goal early in the first period, then converted a wrister with 37 seconds left in the second. While the Stars are shaking off their early-season rust, the Caps are still mired in a scoring slump. Washington (0-3-2) has scored just eight goals in five games. The Caps' schedule hasn't helped, as they played three games in four nights. "We've just got to get a break and relax," Capitals coach Ron Wilson said. "Until we catch a break, we have to keep doing what we're doing." Team turmoil has also caused havoc. Right wing Peter Bondra has made no secret about wanting a trade, and reportedly vetoed a Montreal deal. After the game, Bondra gave a "no comment" to the trade talk, then walked away when it came up again. Olaf Kolzig stopped 17 Stars shots. DALLAS STARS 3, Washington Capitals 0 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Washington 0 0 0 0 Dallas 1 1 1 3 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Modano 2 (Hatcher, Langenbrunner), 2:48 (pp). PENALTIES: Bondra, Was (ob.-tripping), 1:00; Zednik, Was (hooking), 17:18; Morrow, Dal (slashing), 18:18. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 2, Dallas, Langenbrunner 1 (Modano, Lehtinen), 19:22. PENALTIES: Lyashenko, Dal (slashing), 7:02; Klee, Was (hand on puck), 11:32. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 3, Dallas, Nieuwendyk 2 (Hull, Zubov), 13:28 (pp). PENALTIES: Zednik, Was (hooking), 4:56; Sacco, Was (high-sticking), 12:43. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Washington 4 5 3 12 Dallas 6 5 9 20 POWER PLAY: Washington 0 of 2; Dallas 2 of 5. GOALIES: Washington, Kolzig 0-2-0 (20 shots-17 saves). Dallas, Belfour 3-1-1 (12-12). Referees: Dave Jackson, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Stephane Provost, Derek Amell. A: N/A (17,001).