Detroit's Skill Gives Hockey Lesson to Dallas Stars' Will

A rejuvenated Modano, the most decorated American-born player in NHL history, may put off retirement another year and come back for a 19th season. Turco, despite his pedestrian play against Detroit, has at least shaken the stigma of being a playoff choker. Though the roster was built by Doug Armstrong, co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson added Richards and took the team to the conference finals for the first time since 2000. Even owner Tom Hicks can take solace that his patience in head coach Dave Tippett paid off.

Barring an impossible comeback over Detroit—if the Stars win the series I'll skate around the Galleria's rink at Christmas in nothing but a black-and-green thong—the post-season pinnacle was last week's Game 6 elimination of the Sharks.

Not just coincidentally, it accompanied the evolution and arrival of Morrow.

The 29-year-old got the captain's "C" on his sweater last season. But it wasn't until this spring that he became the team's undeniable leader and the new face of the franchise. He began molding his reputation last year when, hobbling on one leg after an injury, he skated to the Vancouver bench and picked a fight.

But in Game 6, Morrow became a legend.

Between taking first a stick and then a puck to the face, Morrow played 51 minutes, took seven shots, dished out a record 19 hits and, of course, scored the game-winning goal in the fourth overtime of the 2-1 victory. He was relentless. He was terrific. He produced enough warm fuzzies to tide us into next fall.

And when your best player is also your hardest worker, your future is bright.

"He plays with a real impact all over the ice," Modano says. "The guy is an inspiration to all of us."

Morrow will keep fighting, and the Stars will keep probing and the demented among us will keep planning to skate the Stanley Cup. As the players left the ice Monday night, the AAC's speakers blared Journey's "Don't Stop Believing."

Grudgingly, most of us already have.