Whoever created the third sweater that Dallas wore Friday night at Reunion Arena should consider asking for royalties.
The Stars, thanks to Mike Modano’s sixth career hat trick, improved to 12-0-4 lifetime in their alternate green jerseys with a 5-1 victory. The move also forced the Blackhawks to wear their home whites, the color of surrender.
That flag has been raised on the Hawks’ postseason hopes. But anyone seeking a reminder of the disparity between the Western Conference’s best and worst teams need only look at this blowout.
“There have been a lot of low points,” said a visibly upset Doug Gilmour, who assisted Eric Daze on the Hawks’ lone–and meaningless–third-period goal. “This is all too much now.”
Statistics apparently didn’t prove enough of a warning for the Hawks, who have lost nine of their last 11. Dallas ranks second in the league on the power play, while the Hawks sit at third worst in penalty killing.
But 4 minutes 18 seconds after the opening faceoff, Eddie Olczyk got called for tripping Joe Nieuwendyk. Nine seconds later, Brett Hull capped a power-play clinic by one-timing a pass from Sergei Zubov past Jocelyn Thibault.
Then, 19 seconds into the second period, Chris Chelios got sent off for roughing. Just 69 seconds later, Brad Brown and Doug Zmolek both chased Pat Verbeek, who fed Modano out front for an easy wrist shot.
Modano later welcomed Mark Fitzpatrick to the festivities just 21 seconds into the third, working a perfect give-and-go with Hull to make it 5-0.
Somebody actually asked coach Dirk Graham if that goal proved the back-breaker.
“Our backs were already broken,” Graham said.
