Modano and Lehtinen – welcome inclusions vs Flames.

It’s been a while since Stars fans fans have been able to say this but all-franchise point getter Mike Modano and grinder Jere Lehtinen will finally be back in the line up tonight for the home game against the Calgary Flames.

Modano has only been able to feature in one game this season – the home opener against the Nashville Predators – during which he suffered a stick blow to the ribs and has been out since. Mike is yet to register a point this season.

Jere Lehtinen has fared one game better having played two so far this season. against Vancouver on October 11th and Nashville on October 14th, managing to get an assist against the Predators. This came before being placed on injured reserve with abdominal soreness.

There’s no two ways about the fact that Dallas have thus far missed two of its franchise faces. Jere Lehtinen is an absolute workhorse for this team and has never – in all his 14 NHL seasons (all with the Dallas – Minnesota North Stars franchise) – shirked away from getting his nose dirty.

Mike Modano – while much has been said over the years about his lack of willing to help out on D – can never be taken for granted when he’s on the ice.  Sure at 39 his wheels may not be the awe inspiring sight they once were but he still has that “something” about him when he’s in skates.

So far this season, Dallas do seem to have been lacking any sense of direction – certainly any sense of consistent direction at any rate. We seem to be scared of winning at home so far, going 2-2-2 over six games at the American Airlines Center. On the road though, we have a decent 4-1-3 record which is just as well. We are currently 6th in the West.

To watch Dallas this season though has almost become uncomfortable.  We seem to only concentrate on one aspect of the game in each match whether that be board play, face-offs, crashing the net, yadda yadda. We are yet to really have one game where all of these aspects are brought together.

That could well start against Calgary tonight who themselves have a full playing staff complement from which to choose so this will be of absolute interest to me and my fellow Stars fans. We have been unable thus far to play with a full roster and against such worthy opposition. The last time we played Calgary, Mikka Kiprussoff had the night off so there was a suspicion that we were only to win because we didn’t have to face him.

On with my predictions:

Final score:

Dallas 4.

Calgary 3.

Score first:

Dion Phaneuf with 7:42 played.

Leading scorer:

James Neal, 1 goal, 2 assists.

Three Stars:

1st Star: James Neal.

2nd Star: Dion Phaneuf.

3rd Star: Brad Richards.

Game review to follow.