Game Recap

DALLAS 3, SAN JOSE 2 DALLAS (AP) - Mike Modano showed why he was worth every penny of his new $43.5 million contract. Modano broke out of his scoring slump with two goals, including the controversial game-winner with 8:44 to play Thursday night, as the Dallas Stars outlasted the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Dallas took take a 3-2 edge in the Western Conference series, with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday night in San Jose. Modano, playing for $3.5 million this year, but doubling his salary when his recently signed six-year deal kicks in next season, scored his second goal on a perfect centering pass from Darryl Sydor, wristing the puck behind a sprawling Mike Vernon. Modano hadn't scored since an empty netter in the first game. "It was time to put up or shut up," said Modano. "Things hadn't been going my way. I had to start playing in-your-face hockey and just let the scoring chances happen. "I had opportunities to take it to the net. It was a tough last couple of games. I was waiting for things to happen on the perimeter and what I needed to do was get into those tough areas." After the game, San Jose claimed Jamie Langenbrunner of the Stars was in the crease. The television replay seemed to back the Sharks' argument. Vernon said Langenbrunner was in the crease. Referee Kerry Fraser was not able to see the play, and according to league procedure, the call must be made by the nearest linesman. However, linesman Pierre Racicot didn't go to the replay and the goal stood. "It's the linesman's call," Vernon said. "If the linesman doesn't see it, he could check the replay. That's what it's there for. If you don't see it, don't guess. That's what the rule is for. He didn't see it." "I know he's an outstanding official," San Jose coach Darryl Sutter said of Fraser. "It's the linesman's mistake, clearly. It shouldn't have counted. I guarantee Vernon stops it if nobody is in his crease to impede him stopping the puck." Jim Christison, supervisor of officials, said, "It was clear Langenbrunner was in the crease. But we have to let the officials on the ice make the call. Their judgment was the goal was good." San Jose scored twice in eight seconds in the second period on goals by John MacLean and Ron Sutter for a 2-1 lead. But the Stars' Juha Lind evened the game with 3:31 left in the period. The Stars lost forward Jere Lehtinen with a knee injury in the second period and his status was uncertain for Saturday. DALLAS STARS 3, San Jose Sharks 2 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- SAN JOSE 0 2 0 2 DALLAS 1 1 1 3 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Modano 2 (Verbeek, Langenbrunner), 19:57 (pp). PENALTIES: Skrudland, Dal (roughing), 4:03; Rathje, SJ (interference), 8:44; Burr, SJ (slashing), 11:53; Marchment, SJ (tripping), 17:30; Ragnarsson, SJ (tripping), 19:46. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 2, San Jose, MacLean 2 (Nicholls, Nolan), 11:26 (pp). 3, San Jose, Sutter 2, 11:34. 4, Dallas, Lind 2 (Keane, Zubov), 16:29. PENALTIES: Iafrate, SJ (tripping), :09; Burr, SJ (unsportsmanlike conduct), 7:12; Langenbrunner, Dal (roughing), 7:12; Lind, Dal (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:19; Hatcher, Dal (cross-checking), 9:56; Sydor, Dal (slashing), 17:25; Murphy, SJ (roughing), 17:25; Verbeek, Dal (high-sticking), 20:00. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 5, Dallas, Modano 3 (Sydor, Langenbrunner), 11:08. PENALTIES: Nolan, SJ (high-sticking), 4:12. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- SAN JOSE 2 12 6 20 DALLAS 14 7 5 26 POWER PLAY: San Jose 1 of 4; Dallas 1 of 6. GOALIES: San Jose, Vernon 2-3 (26 shots-23 saves). Dallas, Belfour 3-2 (20-18). Referee: Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Gord Broseker, Pierre Racicot. A-16,928 (16,928).