DALLAS (AP) – The Anaheim Mighty Ducks wanted to make sure that Mike Modano didn't beat them, and that left Derian Hatcher wide open to score the game-winner for the Dallas Stars.

Modano, who had a goal and two assists, drew two Anaheim defenders. Hatcher took a pass from him, was able to skate in from the left point and blast a slap shot past goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere from the left circle.

"We had them out of position a little," Modano said. "Derian had extra time to get off a heck of a shot."

Hatcher switched from an aluminum shaft stick to a wooden shaft on Feb. 7, and that night he scored the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Edmonton. The equipment change has boosted his confidence.

"Since the All-Star break, his focus is better, his decision-making is better, everything is better," coach Ken Hitchcock said of Hatcher. "Scoring goals is a result of that."

Giguere said he might have been slightly out of position on the decisive goal, but he also credited Hatcher for making a big play with the game on the line.

"He walked in by himself," said Giguere, who made 24 saves. "I was a little deep but I thought I read it well. I've got to give him credit for a good shot."

Pascal Trepanier scored with 9:37 remaining in regulation to pull the Mighty Ducks even at 2 on a shot from the left circle that got through the pads of Stars goalie Ed Belfour.

Modano's short-handed goal with 15:31 left gave the Stars a 2-1 lead.

Modano, who passed Neal Broten in Wednesday night's victory over Los Angeles to become the franchise's career leading scorer, fired a 40-footer from a sharp angle near the boards. The puck popped off Giguere's shoulder and fell over the goal line for Modano's 21st goal of the season – four seconds before an Anaheim power play was to expire.

"I was just throwing it at the net and he lost sight of it," Modano said. "Sometimes funny things happen when you throw the puck at the net."

Modano assisted on Benoit Hogue's first-period goal and has 872 career points. Over his last seven games, Modano has six goals and six assists.

"That's the way things have been going for me lately," Modano said. "I'm real lucky right now."

Oleg Tverdovsky had a first-period goal for the Mighty Ducks, 1-9-2 in their last 12 games. Dallas is 5-1-1 in its last seven.

Hogue scored on a slap shot from the left circle 45 seconds in off a pass from Modano.

Tverdovsky tied it for the Mighty Ducks at 7:24 of the first period on a blast from the top of the right circle.

Game notes
RW Jere Lehtinen was scratched for Dallas because of a strained hip flexor muscle. He is day to day. ... Dallas assigned rookie RW Tyler Bouck to Utah of the International League. Bouck had two goals and five assists in 48 games. ... The Mighty Ducks are 2-15-1 at Reunion Arena.

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