CHICAGO – Dave Tippett's theory of evolution regarding Mike Modano's game received a little support Wednesday night.

The Stars center tallied three assists and helped Dallas to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in a game that Tippett said proved how difficult it is to label Modano as a No. 1 or No. 2 center.

"Three points tonight and probably half of his time was on special teams," Tippett said, before referencing a story in The Dallas Morning News that asked what Modano's role is in light of Mike Ribeiro's new $25 million contract.

"As much as the media wants to make it out as No. 1 or No. 2, I look at it all on the same page," Tippett said. "There's certain people who do certain things that help our team win. Mike Ribeiro does things that help our team win, and Mike Modano does things that help our team win."

Wednesday's game was a perfect example of that, as Modano had just one shot on goal, struggled in the faceoff circle (2-for-9) and still came up with the three assists and was plus-2 in 22 minutes 52 seconds.

"That might be the easiest three assists of my life," Modano said after the Stars pushed their record to 25-16-4 (54 points).

Still, the 37-year-old said the team followed a tried and true formula to get the victory. Dallas dominated time of possession of the puck, had a 30-18 edge in shots on goal and got two great scoring opportunities on a third-period penalty kill with the score tied 1-1.

"You make your breaks," Modano said. "You work for your chances, and we seemed to have the puck a lot on that kill."

Modano buzzed to the net on one run during the penalty kill and almost deflected a Sergei Zubov shot in. Twenty seconds later, Stu Barnes was teeing up a shot from the right point on the same run up ice. The shot dipped down and deflected off the ice midway on its path to the goal and then started knuckling. It slipped past Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin for Barnes' fifth goal in the last nine games.

"It was sort of a squib kick," Barnes said with a laugh.

"Barnesesque," Modano joked.

Still, it was exactly what the Stars needed to start a five-game trip – and it was a dagger to the heart of a Chicago team that is in the midst of a seven-game winless streak (0-5-2).

Barnes has seen his minutes decrease recently with a move to the fourth line, but he still is one of the team's best penalty killers.

"Stu doesn't play a lot of minutes, but he plays very valuable minutes," Tippett said.

AP

Chicago's Patrick Kane (left) is checked by Nicklas Grossman of the Dallas Stars.

Goalie Marty Turco could be given the same praise. He didn't face a lot of shots, but he faced some good ones. He stopped Chicago's Kris Versteeg on a third-period breakaway, he gloved a big slap shot from Dustin Byfuglien in the third period, and he got credit for a save on Patrick Kane's second-period penalty shot.

"I didn't look good on that one," Turco said of Kane missing wide on an open backhand shot. "But I'll take it."

And the Stars will take the win and move on to St. Louis for tonight's game against the Blues – not trying too hard to define exactly what it is they need to win.

"We need everything," Tippett said. "We need the entire team to play well together."