Left winger Raffi Torres has made it clear he wants to remain with the Blue Jackets the rest of the season.

If Torres and the team keep playing the way they have the past three games, it will make it difficult for general manager Scott Howson to move him before the NHL trade deadline March 3.

Torres scored the winning goal last night on a perfect one-time shot in the Jackets' 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Nationwide Arena.

"Like I've said before, this is where I want to be," said Torres, who last night surpassed his goal total from last season (12). "My wife and I both want to stay in Columbus."

An unrestricted free agent at season's end, Torres could make for appetizing trade bait if the Jackets are out of the playoff race in late February.

But his line, with center Antoine Vermette and right winger Jake Voracek, has helped fuel the Jackets' three-game winning streak. Torres has two goals and two assists in that stretch.

"We've sitting back and realizing we have really good players in this room, and those guys are stepping up," Torres said.

Including Torres. He finished off a beautiful first-period rush at 8:20, created by a neutral-zone Dallas turnover. Derick Brassard feathered a cross-ice pass to Torres on the right wing.

Torres is at his best around the net, and he made no mistake on Brassard's feed, firing a one-timer just inside the right post before goaltender Marty Turco could get to the spot.

"Raffi has such a quick release," Brassard said. "That's one of the things that makes him so dangerous."

Russell, Modin out

Defenseman Kris Russell missed the game because of an unspecified lower-body injury.

Hitchcock said Russell was day-to-day and could be available to play Tuesday in St. Louis.

Meanwhile, left winger Fredrik Modin missed his third straight game because of a bruised foot, suffered when he blocked a shot last week in Vancouver.

Modin had an eventful day.

X-rays taken on the road were negative, but Modin had an MRI yesterday to rule out a break or other damage.

When those results came back negative, Modin persuaded doctors and trainers to "freeze" the foot in an attempt to play last night. Alas, Modin couldn't stuff his swollen foot into his boot before warmups.

Left winger Alexandre Picard took his place in the lineup.

Nash slumping

Rick Nash hasn't scored a goal in his past nine games, tying the second-longest streak of his career. It's the fourth time Nash has gone nine games without a goal.

His worst drought came in his rookie season of 2002-03. He scored in his NHL debut, then went the next 11 games without a goal.

Who's in goal?

Goaltender Mathieu Garon made his third straight start. Without committing to a starter for Tuesday, coach Ken Hitchcock said Steve Mason would start one of the next two games.

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