panoo

Associated Press
4/16/2007 6:48:56 PM

DALLAS (AP) - Getting goals from the checking line is the kind of thing NHL teams need in pursuit of the Stanley Cup. And the Dallas Stars can proudly say they're getting that.

Problem is, the guys they pay to score aren't.

Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, Philippe Boucher, Mike Ribeiro and Niklas Hagman - Dallas's top five goal-scorers in the regular season - have yet to beat Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, a big reason why the Stars are trailing Vancouver 2-1 going into Game 4 of their first-round series Tuesday night.

''Some of those people, a timely goal by them would certainly help the cause,'' Stars coach Dave Tippett said Monday. ''Even though our team is built around scoring by committee, we need those top players to contribute.''

All of Dallas's goals the last two games have come from guys who earn their ice time with grit. OK, so that's only been three goals, but everyone knew coming into this series there wouldn't be many. So the most-skilled players were on notice from the start.

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