Stars’ Win, but Lose Modano

Dallas has cruised along with the best record in the NHL over the first third of the season, but now the Stars are going to have to do it the hard way.

It’s not that they can’t, as witness a goal and an assist each from Joe Nieuwendyk, Dave Reid and Jamie Langenbrunner in a 4-1 win over Edmonton on Wednesday night in Dallas.

But the Stars, winners of six in a row and with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games, lost Mike Modano for four to six weeks because of a partially torn knee ligament.

Modano has 15 goals and 23 assists, leading the NHL with 38 points.

“It’s difficult, but all teams go through this,” Dallas Coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We’ll miss him. We’ll find out if the team can absorb this. That’s the challenge.”

Detroit 4, Calgary 3--The Red Wings’ Joey Kocur scored the go-ahead goal at 3:19 of the third period in a win at Calgary.

Kocur was stopped twice before from the same spot at the edge of the Flames’ crease finally whacking his second rebound past goaltender Rick Tabaracci.

Carolina 5, New York Islanders 3--Returning after a six-game absence because of a hamstring injury, Kevin Dineen helped fuel a three-goal first period that sent the Hurricanes to a win in Greensboro, N.C.

Dineen and Geoff Sanderson each had a goal and an assist for Carolina, which scored three times in a span of 2:17.

Tampa Bay 2, Phoenix 1--Dino Ciccarelli’s goal capped a two-goal burst within 34 seconds for the Lightning in a win at Tampa.

The goal gave Ciccarelli a score against all 26 NHL teams and five franchises that have relocated.

Boston 3, Philadelphia 0--Joe Thornton scored his first NHL goal in the third period for the Bruins in a win at Philadelphia.