This Comeback Leaves Senators Seeing Stars

If the Stanley Cup finals can be as wide open and entertaining as this matchup between the best teams in the each conference, then hockey fans are in for a treat.

Mike Modano had two goals and an assist, and Bill Guerin got the game-winner when he redirected Sergei Zubov’s shot from the blue line with 5:24 remaining as the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars beat the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa Senators, 5-3, Monday night at Dallas.

Martin Havlat’s third career hat trick helped Ottawa take leads of 2-0 and 3-2. His third goal came 1:04 after Dallas tied it with goals 41 seconds apart.

Despite a combined eight goals on 48 shots, there also was some great goaltending, giving a sold-out crowd plenty to cheer about in a game that certainly lived up to its billing as a showdown between the two top teams in the NHL.

Havlat’s hot start gave the bankrupt Senators a chance to deal a strong blow to the Stars, whose payroll is twice as large as Ottawa’s.

Instead, the Senators lost when leading after two periods for the first time since Jan. 20, 2002. They remain one point ahead of Dallas with a game in hand in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Nashville 5, Buffalo 1 -- Vitali Yachmenev and Rem Murray scored 58 seconds apart to cap a three-goal first period and Adam Hall and Jason York had a goal and assist each to help the Predators match a season high for goals in a victory at Buffalo, N.Y.

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Toronto goaltender Ed Belfour, Montreal center Saku Koivu and New York Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch won’t play in Sunday’s NHL All-Star game because of injuries.

Belfour, who has a sore back, will be replaced by Ottawa’s Patrick Lalime. Koivu, who will miss the game because of a routine medical exam to monitor his recovery from abdominal cancer, will be replaced by Florida center Olli Jokinen. Leetch, out because of an ankle injury, will be replaced by teammate Tom Poti.

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A replica of the Stanley Cup made from 6,000 Lego bricks is missing, and the toy company is offering a reward for its return. The model apparently was stolen before the close of a sports equipment show in Las Vegas last week. It was one of two replica cups the Danish company built and was on display to promote a new line of Lego NHL hockey sets. The company is offering NHL tickets and assorted Lego products for the return of the model.... The Philadelphia Flyers hired former coach Terry Murray as an assistant coach.