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DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars are perfect in shootouts this
season -- 11 tries, 11 wins. The NHL's new format clearly agrees with them. "You can't complain about it for us," Stars captain Mike
Modano said. "I didn't think we'd be in that many shootouts. It's
been really exciting for the players and the fans. I don't think
anybody really knew how good it would be." Modano has two game-deciding shootout goals. And with a point
for each victory, the Stars hold a 15-point lead over Anaheim in
the Pacific Division. "Those points put us pretty much where we are, away from the
pack that's battling for the playoffs," goaltender Marty Turco
said. Dallas is the only team that hasn't lost in the NHL's new
tiebreaker. Only New Jersey (9-4) and Edmonton (7-8) have played in
more games that have extended past the five-minute overtime period. While many didn't know what to expect with the new system -- it's
a best-of-three, shooter vs. goaltender format until someone wins --
coach Dave Tippett made shootouts a point of emphasis. Tippett remembered what a big difference they made in the
standings when he played and coached in the International Hockey
League in the 1990s. "If you look at the 11 points we have in shootouts, the way the
standings sit right now, that's a big swing," Tippett said.
"They're valuable points. I don't think you can ever underestimate
them." With a victory Friday night at Anaheim, Dallas would be only one
point shy of its seventh division title in nine seasons. The last
championship came in 2002-03, followed by a second-place finish and
then last season's lockout, which led to changes such as the
shootout. The Stars won't be able to depend on shootouts during the
Stanley Cup playoffs. The postseason format is unchanged, with
games tied after three periods continuing with 20-minute overtime
periods until someone scores. Despite his team's success in shootouts, Tippett is glad that
tiebreaking system won't be used in the playoffs. "I think it's ultimately a team game that should be decided by
a team," Tippett said. "But during the season, you find a result
and you just see the excitement it's given the fans and the
players. It's been a nice jolt in the arm for us." Sergei Zubov has four game-deciding goals in shootouts, while
Antti Miettinen and Jussi Jokinen have two each. But Jokinen, a rookie left wing from Finland, is the shootout
specialist -- skating in all 11, scoring in the first nine. "I scored a few goals, so I got the good confidence," Jokinen
said. "Goalies started to know what I'm going to do, so I changed.
Then I scored three in a row, then I changed. I go out and practice
all the time, and maybe next time it will be something real
different." Jokinen didn't score Friday night in the Stars' last shootout
against Chicago, which they won on Brenden Morrow's score in the
eighth round -- the team's longest shootout by four rounds. Johan Hedberg, in goal to give Turco a break, allowed the first
Blackhawks shooter to score before stopping seven in a row. It was
his third shootout victory, and he's allowed only three of 15
shooters to score. Turco leads the NHL and has a team record with 39 wins. Eight
have come in shootouts, when only four of 21 shooters have slipped
the puck past him. "They're big points, but they're all deserved," Turco said.
"From the guys sniping to Johan and myself, it's been the most
team involved. If we needed saves, we got them. If we needed big
goals, we got them at the right moment."
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