The Mike Modano Page

Home Ice

News

Stats

Photo Gallery

Playoffs

Multimedia

Cards

Schedule

Links

Articles

Roster

 

Schedule and Results

Game Recap
DALLAS 3, EDMONTON 1

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Joe Nieuwendyk, slowed by a knee injury,
was healthy enough to lead the Dallas Stars into the Western
Conference semifinals.

Nieuwendyk returned from a knee injury and scored with 2:53 left
to lead the Stars to a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on
Saturday night. Nieuwendyk, hurt in a knee-on-knee collision with
Edmonton's Scott Ferguson in Game 1 of the series, broke a 1-1
tie at 17:07 of the third, and Mike Modano added an empty-net
goal with 44 seconds left as the Stars won the first-round series
4-2.

Nieuwendyk had limited mobility but had hoped to win a few
faceoffs and perhaps get an opportunity to help the Stars.

"I just tried to concentrate on keeping the game simple, trying
to be good defensively and win my faceoffs," Nieuwendyk said. "I
was hoping for a few opportunities and I got one."

Brett Hull, who tied it 1-1 at 8:57 of the third, set up
Nieuwendyk at the Edmonton blue line for a shot that beat goalie
Tommy Salo between the pads.

"It was huge," Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said of Nieuwendyk's
return. "We all knew if this was a regular-season game he
wouldn't have been around."

Nieuwendyk's presence in the lineup provided an immediate boost
for the Stars.

"Probably two-thirds of the team didn't know he was going to play
until we got to the rink," Dallas' Kirk Muller said. "He skates
this morning, gets an opportunity to play and gets a big goal."

Nieuwendyk sustained a ligament sprain in his collision with
Ferguson and never tried to skate until Saturday morning when he
went out with Gerald Diduck. His goal through Salo's legs was his
only shot in the game. Ferguson wasn't surprised that it was
Nieuwendyk that scored the winning goal.

"He has been known to do that before where he came back from an
injury and played through pain," Ferguson said. "There's a reason
why he's a premier player in this league. He plays through pain
and you have to give him credit for that."

Edmonton winger Ryan Smyth, who scored the Oilers' goal 4:44 in,
called Nieuwendyk a warrior.

"He's been there. He's won the Cup. He knows what it takes,"
Smyth said.

The Oilers got a chance at a go-ahead goal at 13:20 of the third
when the Stars' Derian Hatcher was called for goaltender
interference, but were unable to convert on the power-play.
Dallas started the second period on a power play with Georges
Laraque off for roughing Hatcher, but Salo stopped eight
consecutive shots in the first five minutes. The Oilers nearly
scored a short-handed goal when Todd Marchant hit the post.

Smyth, who needed 20 stitches to close a cut in Game 5, was
accidentally hit in the ear by Muller in the second period. Smyth
returned midway through the period.

The Oilers have been knocked out of the playoffs by Dallas the
last four seasons and won just of the four overtime games.

"We honestly felt we could beat this team this year," said Smyth.
"We have a great core of character guys here. We had it this
year. Emotionally it's hard to take."


Dallas Stars 3, EDMONTON OILERS 1

                    1ST  2ND  3RD   FINAL
                    ---  ---  ---   -----
Dallas               0    0    3      3
Edmonton             1    0    0      1


FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Edmonton, Smyth 3 (Weight), 4:44.
PENALTIES: Marchant, Edm (hooking), 15:25; Laraque, Edm
(roughing), 19:11

SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Matvichuk, Dal
(high-sticking), 9:23; Van Allen, Dal (goalie interference),
12:10; Ulanov, Edm (high-sticking), 17:15.

THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 2, Dallas, Hull 1 (Modano), 8:57. 3,
Dallas, Nieuwendyk 2 (Hull, Hatcher), 17:07. 4, Dallas, Modano 3,
19:16 (en). PENALTIES: Belfour, Dal, served by Hull (roughing),
6:22; Matvichuk, Dal (roughing), 10:18; Carter, Edm (roughing),
10:18; Hatcher, Dal (goalie interference), 13:20; Matvichuk, Dal
(cross-checking), 19:52.


SHOTS ON GOAL
                    1ST  2ND  3RD   TOTAL
                    ---  ---  ---   -----
Dallas               5   13    8     26
Edmonton             5    3   12     20


POWER PLAY: Dallas 0 of 3; Edmonton 0 of 5. GOALIES: Dallas,
Belfour 4-2 (20 shots-19 saves). Edmonton, Salo 2-4 (25-23).

Referees: Bill McCreary, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Mike Cvik,
Scott Driscoll.

A: 17,100 (17,100).


|Home Ice|News|Stats|Photo Gallery|Playoffs|Multimedia|Cards|Schedule|Links|Articles|Roster|

This page last updated April 22, 2001

E-mail @ northstar9@hockeymail.com

Copyright © 1996-2001 All Rights Reserved
No reproduction or redistribution permitted without written consent of author.
This page not affiliated with Mike Modano, the Dallas Stars organization, or the National Hockey League.



This page hosted by GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page
1