December 8, 1999, Carbo's on a "Scoring Tear". . .

From The Dallas Morning News, Bill Nichols:

Guy Carbonneau is not big on numbers. At 39, he has learned to forget.

But the NHL's oldest player is steadily climbing the Stars' scoring list, which is littered with rookies. On Wednesday, Carbonneau's goal with one minute, 38 seconds left gave Dallas a 2-1 victory over Carolina before 17,001 at Reunion Arena.

So much for fading off into the sunset.

In 27 games, Carbonneau has matched the number of goals he scored in 74 games last season. He's tied for fifth on the team with four.

"I don't know," Carbonneau said when asked where he stood in scoring. "I'll pay attention when I'm No. 1."

Carbonneau's spirited play epitomized the Stars' deep effort against the Hurricanes. Dallas got strong play from all four lines, creating continuous scoring chances while bombarding former Stars goalie Arturs Irbe with 28 shots on goal and 15 more that missed the net.

But to win for the sixth time in their past eight games, the Stars needed a dramatic sequence.

Juha Lind, drawing both Carolina defensemen while getting knocked to his stomach in the slot, somehow got his stick on the puck and passed behind him to Carbonneau beside the net.

"Somehow I knew that Carbo would be there," Lind said.

Bill Nichols' three stars of the game

12/9/99

1	Guy Carbonneau, Dallas: Helped shut down Carolina's top line with another strong defensive performance and scored the winning goal.
2	Brett Hull, Dallas: Winger took another step toward 600 career goals (597) while constantly creating good chances for his line.
3	Arturs Irbe, Carolina: Former Stars goalie made some spectacular saves to keep the game close.

From The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jennifer Floyd:

Carolina defenseman Sean Hill laid his stick into Stars forward Juha Lind's back, propelling him forward.

Lind landed flat on his face a couple of steps away from Carolina's goal, and then promptly, albeit blindly, swiped the puck back in the direction he had come from and where linemate Guy Carbonneau now waited. Only a couple of minutes remained before another strong Stars performance turned into another frustrating game.

Instead, Carbonneau turned Lind's pass into a goal and a 2-1 frustration-dodging Stars victory.

Carbonneau delivered last night, scoring his second goal in as many games with 1:38 remaining, a game-winner that Irbe didn't have a chance on.

The oldest player in the NHL at 39 and ready to retire at the end of the season, Carbonneau hasn't lost his ability to do the things it takes to win games. And right now that just happens to make him Guy Carbonneau the goal scorer.

"I'm holding out next week," he joked. "I want more money."

Three Stars

1. Stars center Guy Carbonneau. Is there anything this guy can't do?

2. Stars forward Brett Hull. He still has the ability to change a game with a swing of his stick.

3. Hurricanes goalie Arturs Irbe. Without him, the Stars could've won 5-1.