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Lehtinen's return should spark Stars' power play

Fri 1st, February 2008

(Sports Network) - While Jere Lehtinen is known as an excellent defensive forward, his return to Dallas' lineup should also help another area: the power play.

Entering play on Friday, Dallas is in the middle of the pack with a 17.8 percent on the power play, good for 15th in the league. The effort is paced by Brenden Morrow, who leads the club with eight power-play markers this season.

Last year, Lehtinen held the top spot in that category, as 11 of his team- leading 26 goals came on the man advantage, a number that also led the club.

The Finnish forward has six goals and 13 assists in 21 games this year, as he has been out since November 23 due to a sports hernia that required surgery. He was activated off injured reserve on Friday after missing 33 straight games.

No doubt it will take the 34-year-old Lehtinen some time to get his ice legs back, but once he does the three-time Selke Trophy winner as the league's top defensive forward will make his presence felt.

While improving the power play, his defensive abilities should bolster a penalty killing unit that is already tops in the league, killing off man advantages at an 86.9 percent clip through January 31.

Lehtinen's three Selke awards, his most recent coming at the end of the 2002-03 season, are tied with Guy Carbonneau for the second most in league history, behind Bob Gainey's four.

While this year's injury probably cost Lehtinen a shot at tying Gainey at the end of the season, his six nominations for the award are an excellent feat as well, as is his career plus-179 rating.

Lehtinen hit the 20-goal mark for the seventh time in his career last year and only Mike Modano (15) and Brian Bellows (10) have more in their Stars careers than Lehtinen.

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