With Modano skating for possibly the last time, Stars beat Wild 4-3 in shootout to end season

Stars beat Wild 4-3 in shootout to end season

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Mike Modano was denied but Jamie Benn scored in the shootout, giving the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night to wrap up the regular season.

Brendan Morrow had a power-play goal, and Steve Ott scored twice for the Stars, tying the game at 3 early in the third period.

Mikko Koivu scored twice and rookie Casey Wellman got his first career goal for the Wild.

But this was about Modano, who drew a standing ovation when a video of highlights from his days with the Minnesota North Stars was shown during a first-period break. There were a few North Stars jerseys in the crowd, too, among the fans wearing Wild stuff.

Modano was overcome by emotion during an extended ovation in Dallas two nights earlier, the final home game of the season. He gave Stars fans quite a show, with a goal and an assist in regulation plus a score in the shootout.

The 39-year-old forward didn’t make much of an impact this time, misfiring on a backhander in the first period. This was about the appearance, though, and not the performance. Players from both teams tapped their sticks on the ice when the Modano montage was shown, and the officials clapped. Again, he appeared to be crying during the honor with 9:09 left in the first period.

Modano even donned his old North Stars jersey after the game and skated around the ice to more claps and cheers.

The other No. 9, Koivu, tried to steal the show by scoring twice from the near edge of the right circle in the opening frame, the first during a two-man advantage for the Wild. The Stars were the only NHL team that hadn’t allowed a 5-on-3 goal this season.

The Stars missed the playoffs for the second straight season, which hasn’t happened since 1987 and 1988 when the franchise was in Minnesota. Modano was drafted with the first overall selection right after that, and away he went.

Coach Marc Crawford’s attempt with his players to “recapture some greatness,” as he put it before the season, didn’t materialize. Loui Eriksson and Benn were bright spots, but the Stars were the epitome of mediocrity, failing to post a winning streak longer than two games.

Modano isn’t the only high-profile player uncertain to return next season, as the Stars sort out their ownership situation. Goalie Marty Turco, who yielded to Kari Lehtonen for this game, is also playing on an expiring contract and might not be re-signed.

The Wild had a disappointing season, too, the first year for general manager Chuck Fletcher and coach Todd Richards. They were beset by injuries, but also inconsistency, and the final few weeks featured extended ice time for several young players.

Wellman is one of those, signed last month straight from the University of Massachusetts. He scored 9 seconds into the third period, drawing a loud roar from the crowd.

Niklas Backstrom was back in the net for Minnesota after leaving the last game early, when a slap shot struck him in the neck.

NOTES: This was Koivu’s eighth NHL two-goal game. He set a career high with 22 goals this season. … Ott finished with six goals in his last six games to reach 22 for the season, a career high. … The Wild called this the sixth largest regular-season crowd, 19,109, in their history.