November 11, 1999

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

DALLAS -- Say what you want about Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman, that he touched a television camera Sunday night during a game at Tampa Bay, that he played below his ability during the first few games of the season.

But don't doubt his character. And don't ever doubt his skill.

Yzerman has a firm grip on immortality, and he's squeezing harder with every game he plays. He scored two goals Wednesday night, a one-timer on the rush in the second period and a sweet shorthanded one in the third, leading the Wings to a much-needed 4-2 victory over Dallas.

With two more goals, Yzerman will become only the 11th player in NHL history to score 600 in his career. And he might not take long to do it. After scoring just once in his first 10 games, Yzerman has scored five goals in his past five games and shorthanded goals in back-to-back games.

"It's coming," Yzerman said. "I'm just trying to get it going more. I play about 20 minutes a game and play regularly on the power play, so I should get some offensive chances. It's not that I haven't gotten chances; I haven't buried them. Hopefully, they'll keep going in."

There were other standouts. Mathieu Dandenault and Igor Larionov also scored for the Wings, who played an excellent defensive game, allowing the Stars 20 shots. Goaltender Chris Osgood continued his stellar play, improving his record to 9-1-2. But Yzerman was the catalyst.

He guided the Wings through a tumultuous time. They were angered by allegations of abuse made against them Sunday by a Florida television crew. They were playing without forward Brendan Shanahan, serving a suspension for a stick-swinging incident. They were carrying a new player, free-agent forward Pat Verbeek. They were 1-3-1 in their previous five games.

"He's the team captain and the team leader," Larionov said. "He scored a huge couple of goals today. That showed all of us. We followed his example and played the way he was playing tonight. All 20 guys on the ice tried to play as hard as Stevie played."

Associate coach Barry Smith called Yzerman "outstanding."

"Both offensively and defensively, he's really stepped up his game," Smith said. "His hands are there. His feet are moving. He's been really good for us, and he's made a difference, because one player can help raise the others."

The Stars, who got goals from defenseman Brad Lukowich and center Joe Nieuwendyk, were missing a few important players because of injury -- forwards Juha Lind, Jere Lehtinen, Grant Marshall and Brian Skrudland and defenseman Shawn Chambers.

But the Wings were still pleased to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions on the road.

"We're not dumb enough to say they have a full lineup; we know they don't have a full lineup," Smith said. "But with the lineup they had tonight, we had them beat."

Dandenault, back on defense, gave the Wings a quick 1-0 lead 1:49 into the game by looking like a forward. He stepped up into the play and one-timed a pass from Tomas Holmstrom past goaltender Ed Belfour, who was coming off a brilliant performance against the Blues.

Yzerman extended with Wings' lead to 2-0 at 14:18, one-timing a slick pass from forward Kris Draper past Belfour. The Captain scored his second goal 4:28 into the third period with Dallas on the power play, faking out goaltender Manny Fernandez. Belfour had left with a groin injury.