clarinews@clarinet.com (01/14/90)
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (UPI) -- Rookie Mike Modano scored a goal and three assists leading the Minnesota North Stars to a 6-4 victory over Detroit Saturay night. Modano broke a 3-3 tie at 6:59 of the third period with his 18th goal of the season, tops among NHL rookies. He took a Steve Barber pass, used the Red Wings Doug Houda as a screen and beat Detroit goalie Sam St. Laurent with a 30-foot wrist shot. At 10:46, Modano set up Brian Bellows' 29th of the year. Modano circled out of the corner, passed to Bellows in front who knocked home his own rebound. It was Bellows second goal of the game. The Red Wings pulled to within one goal just 21 seconds later when Bernie Federko got his second of the game off a Dan Shank pass. But Minnesota's Dave Gagner gave the North Stars some breating room when he blasted home a 35 foot slap shot at 15:31. Detroit had tied the score 3-3 after only 30 seconds of the third period on Steve Chiasson's second goal of the game. Chiasson one-touched a Steve Yzerman pass. The Red Wings thought they have moved in front 4-3 at 3:24 of the final on Dan Shank's goal. But referee Paul Stewart disallowed the goal becuase Greg Adams was in the crease. The North Stars had allowed 17 goals in two previous losses including a 9-0 shellacking in Detroit earlier in the week. The North Stars took a 3-2 lead in the first period on three power-play goals. Neal Broten got the first at 4:47, only seven seconds after the Red Wings John Mokosak was sent off from tripping. Broten won a draw back to Modano at the left point. Sam St. Laurent stopped Modano's shot, but Broten, cutting in front, got the rebound and flipped a sharp angled backhander over the goalie. It was Broten's 13th of the season and third in the last two games. Detroit tied it 1-1 at 5:41 on Chiasson's ninth of the season. Chiasson took Yzerman's pass at the right point and flipped a 45-footer that beat starting North Stars' goalie Jon Casey. Minnesota coach Pierre Page replaced Casey with Kari Takko. A few minutes earlier Casey had missed a 60-footer by the Red Wings Shawn Burr but the goal was disallowed because Detroit was ruled offside. Minnesota made it 2-1 at 6:46, only five seconds after Houda was caught hooking. Bellows tipped Ville Siren's shot. It was Bellows 28th of the year. The North Star power-play struck again at 10:43 when Mike Gartner got his 26th of the year. Modano carried the puck over the Detroit blueline but his pass was partially blocked by the Red Wings' Dave Barr. Barr's clearing attempt was knocked down by Larry Murphy. Gartner picked up the loose puck in the mid-slot and beat St. Laurent with a wrist shot high on the stick side. The Red Wings pulled to within 3-2 at 12:57 on Federko's 6th of the season. Federko collected Dan Shank's drop pass and beat Takko on the shortside from 30 feet. Both Takko and St. Laurent made some key stops in a scoreless second period. Takko made a pair of back-to-back saves on Yzerman and Gerard Gallant while St. Laurent gloved an Aaron Broten shot and kicked out a low bullet by Gagner.