As the two-time defending Western Conference champion Dallas Stars fade from the playoff sky, take a moment to appreciate the sparkle in the game's best two-way player, Mike Modano.

On Tuesday night, in Game 3 of the Stars-Blues series, Modano returned to the Stars lineup after suffering a low ankle sprain in Game 1. He did so without getting a painkilling shot. In other words, he played through the pain.

While I'm sure Modano did feel discomfort in his left ankle as he battled into double overtime with the Blues, it wasn't noticeable in his play. The Stars' star blazed from end board to end board, creating offensive chances with incredible finesse skills while getting back to handle the dirty work deep in the defensive zone. On a bum ankle, he played 35:28, recorded two assists, won 25 of 42 faceoffs and blocked four shots. Time after time, shift after shift, Modano was visible in both ends of the rink.

His play didn't go unnoticed by his opponents. After the Blues' 3-2 win (which gave them a 3-0 series lead), drained all-star forward Keith Tkachuk put it into plain English: "Mike [Modano] is a special player."

While Modano's skills have always been special, his two-way skills weren't something the Michigan native brought to the NHL from Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League. Drafted No. 1 overall in 1988, Modano's game has evolved during his 12 NHL seasons. He has gone from skilled (but scared) pretty boy, hovering on the perimeter, to hard working, gritty, get-into-the-trenches superstar. Where he once took shortcuts, he now takes a tougher route. Where he once laid on the ice after a hit (so much so that tough guys on his own team wouldn't take up for him), he now initiates the contact. And, when he gets knocked down, he jumps back up and gets back in the play.

Certainly GM Bob Gainey, who coached Modano for five and a half seasons, should get some credit for Modano's development. So should current Dallas bench jockey Ken Hitchcock, who sold No. 9 on his defensive system. In the end, though, the most credit should go to Modano himself. He made the conscious decision to sacrifice offensive numbers to become a complete player--much like Steve Yzerman did in Detroit.

There have been countless players who made it to the NHL on skill, but were never willing to put the team above themselves. And, because of that, they never became the complete players they might have been. There will be no "might-have-been" for Mike Modano, who has made himself the game's best two-way player.

E.J. Hradek covers hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.