Savard: Hawks' final loss 'sums up our year'; Stars 3, Blackhawks 2

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars want to carry the momentum from a 12-2-2 season-ending run into the playoffs against the VancouverCanucks.

The Blackhawks want to one day be in their class.

Mike Modano scored with 3:49 left, and the Stars tuned up for thepostseason with a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Sunday. It washis 507th career goal, extending his record for U.S.-born players.

The Stars finished with 50 wins and 107 points to wrap up thesixth seed in the Western Conference, capping the regular seasonwith a three-goal third-period flurry against the Hawks.

"Just the win itself and getting to the 50-win plateau, those arethings that give you that momentum and that belief system you needgoing into the playoffs," Stars coach Dave Tippett said.

The Stars had little else to play for against the Hawks becausetheir playoff seeding already had been determined. The Stars and SanJose Sharks finished with the same point total, but the Sharks wonthe tiebreaker with one more victory to earn the fifth seed.

The Stars take on the No. 3 seed, the Northwest Division-champion Canucks, with Game 1 in Vancouver.

"This was not the easiest game to get up for," Philippe Bouchersaid. "We need to play strong third periods in the playoffs, andwe've been getting them."

With the score 2-2 and the teams 4-on-4, Modano skated to the netalong the right side and beat Hawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin aftera centering pass from Boucher for his 22nd goal of the season.

The Hawks, who missed the playoffs for the eighth time in thelast nine seasons, finished with 71 points, tied with the EdmontonOilers for third-fewest in the West.

The Hawks failed to convert on three power-play opportunities.Their last one came with five minutes left, but they lost it after54 seconds when Duncan Keith was penalized for hooking.

"We played well for 55 minutes, and then we shot ourselves in thefoot," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "But that sums up our year."

Bryan Bickell gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead at 12:27 of the thirdperiod with a one-timer from the high slot for his second goal inhis third NHL game. But Sergei Zubov got the tying goal for theStars at 13:36 of the third, notching his 12th of the season on ashot from the point.

Brenden Morrow broke a scoreless game with his 16th goal at 5:56of the third period while the Stars were on a power play. JasonWilliams' deflection for his 15th goal came a minute later.

Dallas and Vancouver split their four regular-season meetings,all ending in 2-1 scores. Much will depend on the goaltenders --Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Dallas' Marty Turco.

"One thing for sure, we're used to playing tight, one-goalgames," Boucher said. "Roberto Luongo is one of the best in theleague, and he's played well against us. We have strong goaltending,too, and we're going up there with a lot of confidence."

HAWKS RECAP

Blackhawks 0 0 2 -- 2

Dallas 0 0 3 -- 3

First Period--No scoring. Penalties--Bourque, HAWKS (tripping),16:48.

Second Period--No scoring. Penalties--Sharp, HAWKS (hooking),3:12; Zubov, Dal (hooking), 16:08.

Third Period--1, Dallas, Morrow 16 (Jokinen, Boucher), 5:56 (pp).2, HAWKS, Williams 15 (Salmelainen, Keith), 6:56. 3, HAWKS, Bickell2 (Hamilton, Arkhipov), 12:27. 4, Dallas, Zubov 12 (Modano), 13:36.5, Dallas, Modano 22 (Boucher, Nagy), 16:11. Penalties--Ott, Dal,major (fighting), 2:08; Seabrook, HAWKS, major (fighting), 2:08;Barker, HAWKS (hooking), 4:20; Nagy, Dal (tripping), 8:48; Robidas,Dal (hooking), 15:00; Keith, HAWKS (hooking), 15:54.

Shots on Goal--HAWKS 10-8-6--24. Dallas 7-15-11--33.

Power-play opportunities--HAWKS 0 of 3; Dallas 1 of 4.

Goalies--HAWKS, Khabibulin 25-26-5 (33 shots-30 saves). Dallas,Turco 38-20-5 (24-22).

Referees--Kelly Sutherland, Ian Walsh. Linesmen--Mike Cvik,Darren Gibbs. A--17,932 (18,532). T--2:18.