On March 13, 2007, Mike Modano reached one of hockey’s most prestigious scoring milestones when he scored the 500th goal of his NHL regular-season career in a 3–2 victory for the Dallas Stars over the Philadelphia Flyers at the American Airlines Center.

The milestone goal came 9:36 into the third period, when Modano buried a rebound past Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymäki. The play was set up by assists from Antti Miettinen and Jon Klemm, and it stood as the game-winning goal in front of a celebratory home crowd.

With that goal, Modano became the 39th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal mark and only the second American-born player at the time to accomplish the feat, further cementing his place among the league’s elite scorers. The milestone was especially meaningful in Dallas, where Modano had become the face of the franchise since it relocated from Minnesota in 1993 and helped establish hockey in a non-traditional market.

Over the course of his NHL career, Modano finished with 561 goals, 813 assists, and 1,374 points in 1,499 games, numbers that made him one of the most productive American players the league had ever seen. In 2007 he also surpassed Phil Housley to become the highest-scoring American-born player in NHL history at the time, a record that highlighted both his longevity and consistent offensive production.

His impact on the Dallas franchise is unmatched as Modano remains the all-time leader in Stars history in goals (557), assists (802), points (1,359), and games played (1,459 with the franchise), among several other categories.

Drafted first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1988, he went on to spend 21 seasons with the organization, becoming the defining star of the team throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Beyond the statistics, Modano’s leadership and elite skating played a key role in the club’s greatest success. He helped guide the Stars to their first Stanley Cup championship during the 1999 season, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. That championship run, along with years of playoff contention, helped cement Dallas as a legitimate NHL market and inspired the growth of youth hockey throughout Texas.

Modano’s career achievements eventually earned him induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014, recognizing both his individual brilliance and his lasting impact on the game. Moments like his 500th goal on March 13, 2007 remain defining memories for Stars fans and serve as reminders of the remarkable career of the greatest player in franchise history.