Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock was talking yesterday about how intense the play becomes at a time of the season when so few points separate so many teams in the playoff race.

"The young guys find out how very serious the games get," Hitchcock said. "The level goes way, way up."

The Jackets, winners of four consecutive games, are going to be without one of their most experienced veterans for a crucial stretch.

Winger Fredrik Modin suffered a strained left knee Saturday in a 5-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Modin, 34, will miss at least a week and likely longer.

The injury occurred in the waning seconds as Modin was driving to the net with the puck and got pushed by a Hurricanes defender into the right goal post.

Hitchcock did not label the hit dirty but called it unnecessary given the time remaining and score.

"Freddy was in a real vulnerable position," Hitchcock said. "It's a loss for us because Freddy was really developing some chemistry with R.J. (Umberger). We'll have to try to duplicate that chemistry with somebody else."

Modin is tied for fifth in team scoring with nine goals and 16 assists, but he also plays on both special teams units and his strong work along the wall is an overlooked asset. His style of play is suited for physical opponents such as the Dallas Stars, who visit Nationwide Arena tonight.

Modin demonstrated leadership and grit in playing with broken toes while as many as eight teammates were out of the lineup in January.

The Modin injury only added to Hitchcock's concerns. The coach hasn't been pleased with facets of the Jackets' game despite the fact that a win tonight would give them sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference.

Hitchcock is unhappy with his team's careless puck handling and how it's competing in the defensive zone. The Jackets were sloppy in their own end against the Hurricanes, relying on goaltender Steve Mason and 26 blocked shots to get out of frequent trouble.

"Both of these things are within our control," Hitchcock said. "It's our play with the puck that's hurting us. If we manage the puck right, good things will happen."

That wasn't the case in a 7-2 loss to the Stars at home on Jan. 31. Dallas had a parade of odd-man breaks that were the result of Jacket turnovers.

The seven even-strength goals were the most allowed by the Jackets under Hitchcock.

"We've got to do a better job of initiating against them," Jackets center Michael Peca said. "You have to be prepared to play 60 minutes against a physical team like Dallas."

The Stars and Jackets, tied with 61 points, have played three wild, testy and high-scoring games. Dallas has won the past two after losing 5-4 in overtime on opening night. The Stars have scored 16 times in the three games.

"Hitch and I have both been shaking our heads at the number of goals that have been scored," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "It's hard to explain, but that's the way it's happened."

The Jackets play four times in a six-day stretch, including another rugged opponent in Anaheim on Saturday.

It's this time of season when veterans such as Modin, who won a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay, are so beneficial to a maturing team.

"We know the importance of these games as they come," Peca said. "In an organization that has never been to the playoffs, the older players have to show the younger players the quality or work and attention to detail that must go into these games."

treed@dispatch.com