Mike Modano is the face of the Dallas Stars. But the biggest hockey party in Dallas since the 1999 Stanley Cup championship is likely to go on without him.

Modano said Monday it is "highly unlikely" that he'll play in the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 24, as he continues to heal from hip and groin injuries that have sidelined him for more than a month and stumped his doctors.

It has been a frustrating season for Modano, who is within striking distance of two scoring records for American-born players. He has 495 career goals, just seven short of Joe Mullen's American record of 502, and at 1,203 points, he is closing in on Phil Housley's American-best career total of 1,232. But Modano has played in only 10 games this season and none since Dec. 4.

"That's very disappointing, not to be able to play in that game," Modano said of the All-Star Game. "That's the hard part because you look forward to that game here and that one time you can play at home in front of everybody."

Modano, who has played in six All-Star Games and sat out two more for injuries, would not rule out being available if he is able to heal adequately in the next two weeks. If he were to be available, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman could name him to the Western Conference roster using an exemption he last employed in 1998. But Modano acknowledged that's not looking very likely.

"I don't want to go out there if this thing is still lingering," he said. "You're going to be tempted to see what you can do."

While Modano has skated and worked out on his own, the risk of reinjuring the hip precludes him from skating in game conditions.

"No one's ever seen it," Modano said of the injury. "We've called doctors all over the country. ... There's no way to gauge what the healing process is or the time off."