Mike Modano Emotional Night at The American Airlines Center (HD)

Follow my YouTube video updates on Twitter. - http://twitter.com/HockeyWebCast

DALLAS -- Mike Modano turned what should have been a meaningless game between a pair of also-ran teams into something really memorable. Modano had a goal and an assist in regulation in possibly his final home game with the Stars, then scored in the second round of the shootout to help Dallas beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Thursday night. Modano will seriously considering retirement when the season is over, and he was overcome by emotion several times during the game.

"It was tough to leave the ice not knowing what the future holds, whether that was it or it wasn't," Modano said. "I didn't really have an idea what to expect but it was a nice way to possibly end it, how it unfolded. The fans were fantastic."

Fans cheered Modano when he took the ice for warmups, displaying such signs as "1 Mo Year" and "Say It Ain't So Mo," and they roared when Modano was introduced with the starting lineup. Modano was shown on the video board during a stoppage in play with less than six minutes left in regulation. He had tears in his eyes when he received an extended standing ovation. Even the referees applauded Modano and the Ducks on the bench stood and tapped their sticks on the boards in recognition. "He is the reason I chose No. 9 when I was coming up," said Anaheim's Bobby Ryan, who had both of his team's goals. "He stymied us tonight but if anybody deserved it, it was him." Ryan's power-play goal gave the Ducks a 2-1 edge at 15:16 of the third period. But Modano deflected Trevor Daley's shot out of the air and past goalie Jonas Hiller with 1:47 left in regulation to tie it at 2-2.

The goal stood after officials ruled that Modano's stick was below crossbar level, although it was a close call. "Maybe they threw me a farewell bone there," Modano said of the refs. Rookie Jamie Benn scored off an assist from Modano, whose 557 NHL goals are the most by an American-born player. In the shootout, Modano, who'd failed on his first five shootout attempts this season, beat Hiller with a snap shot. Stars teammate Jere Lehtinen, another veteran whose career is winding down, clinched the win in the third round when he fired a wrister between Hiller's pads. "It was a special moment, to see those flashes of brilliance, that he [Modano] can still do it," said Dallas goalie Marty Turco, who finished with 17 saves. "Tonight was about as good as it gets." Modano started the play on Benn's goal that tied the game at 1-1 at 12:44 of the second. It was Modano's 802nd NHL assist. Modano passed from behind the net to Lehtinen, who fed Benn in the slot for Benn's 22nd goal of the season.

The 39-year-old Modano began his NHL career with a two-game playoff stint for the Minnesota North Stars in 1989. The eight-time all-star has been with the franchise since, moving to Texas with the team in 1993. Modano, the franchise leader in 15 regular-season categories and 11 more in the playoffs, will close out the season — and possibly his career — Saturday night on the road against the Minnesota Wild. "This was a great night for a player that played a number of years and has been the face of the franchise, not only in Minnesota but here," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.

• Category

  Sports

[Ducksrule123]

he should have never played that one season in detroit

[meatballsupper]

Incredible athlete and person!

[NJDEVIL91923]

He still had the fire to play...the Stars didn't want him...you never let someone else tell you when your done.

[chopperbubba]

Classic Modano!

[Drew Stainsby]

Any time a franchise appreciates a player as much as this I get chills. Modano killed the Canucks every chance he got but I still respect him for sticking it out for the same team year after year. Classy.

[Mikey114411]

Oh my bad troll

[JAKE WHITE]

it is Lehtinen not Letninen! ok!? :)

[littl3shad19]

Even though I'm a Wings fan and liked having him on our team, I couldn't agree more.

[Mikey114411]

And Letinen to win it was a PERFECT ending!

[canucks fan]

Retire his number!

[James Grant]

They need to Retire Mike's number

[Serra Tree]

It sure seems like Dallas has hockey fans...I heard they didn't...guess that was bullshit.