GLENDALE, Ariz – It was a good day for Mike Modano on Thursday.

The day after passing Phil Housley to become the all-time American-born point scorer in NHL history, he received congratulatory phone calls from a lot of his old Team USA teammates, including Phil Housley, the man who held the record.

"I just wanted to tell him that he deserved it and that I was happy to see him get it," Housley said from his home in Minnesota. "I know he was really happy to get it. He sounded relieved."

Modano was indeed relieved and said he hopes getting the record can lead to a scoring streak.

"I started the season and wanted to get it over with quickly, and when I didn't, it just got to be a bit of a burden," he said. "But I kind of just put it out of my mind a few games back, and I think that helped a lot. Now, I just want to go forward and build on it."

Modano, 37, said setting the record doesn't make him think any more about retirement. He has two years remaining on his contract and said that he has been taking the contract on a year-by-year basis.

"That's something I think about in the off-season," he said. "I've got a long way to go with this season right now."

Stars coach Dave Tippett said he believes getting the record should help Modano, who has seven points in the first 16 games, play better.

"I think it will help him," Tippett said. "It's a load off of his mind."

Modano talked to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday and also is expecting a call from President Bush, the former owner of the Rangers and a good friend of Stars and Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Bush was in meetings Thursday and is expected to call today or Saturday.

Grossman called up: Defenseman Mattias Norstrom missed Thursday's game with facial lacerations he suffered Wednesday against San Jose. He is day-to-day.

Niklas Grossman was called up from Iowa and played his first game of the season – the ninth of his NHL career.

Grossman flew in from Des Moines on Thursday and said he slept on the plane and also took a nap at the team hotel.

"I should be well rested," he said.

Grossman suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason but said he feels 100 percent healthy.

"I've been working on it, and it's back to normal now," Grossman said.

Briefly: Modano ranks second in wins among active NHL forwards. In games in which he has played, Modano's team has won 635 times. Only Brendan Shanahan has more at 744. ... Antti Miettinen and Loui Eriksson were healthy scratches for the third consecutive game. ... Dallas entered the game with a six-game winning streak in Arizona.