Dec. 6--Center Mike Modano looked at the clock in the Stars locker room Friday morning and declared that the he would forever stop talking about the Sean Avery incident at 11:15 a.m.
"We need to move on," Modano said.
Modano helped the Stars with that process Friday night, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche.
It was Dallas' first shootout win this season and pushes the Stars to 10-12-4.
"It's an awesome sign, even despite a late goal," said goalie Marty Turco, who had 26 saves. "This team has been playing tighter, better and more together."
The Stars now have three wins in their last four games.
But for all their positive momentum, they also are happy to be getting a four-day break. With the hoopla surrounding Avery's six-game suspension and the possibility that management will not allow Avery back on the roster, the team probably needs time to clear its head.
Plus, with five injured regulars out of the lineup -- Sergei Zubov, Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, Joel Lundqvist and Steve Ott -- the Stars could use a physical breather.
Turco was less than a minute away from his first shutout of the season and first since March 8 -- also against the Avalanche. However, Marek Svatos was able to convert a Paul Stastny pass with 55.5 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. The Stars were 0-4 in extra periods and shootouts this season.
Still, the Stars hung in. Turco was able to make big saves on Svatos, Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth in the shootout, and Modano and Mike Ribeiro scored for the Stars. Ribeiro had to score to keep the shootout going, and Modano then followed with the winner.
Modano had another big game, as he fed Toby Petersen for the game's first goal and also set him up for a chance in overtime.
"Anytime you get on the ice with Mike Modano, it's going to make your game better, he's got such great vision," Petersen said. "We're turning a corner here. We're starting to play as a team and make things happen."
The clock on the wall seemed to indicate it's now or never.
"It's very much needed right now," Modano said "We are fighting and clawing for every point, so this was big."
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