Game Preview: Vancouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars

Feb 17, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Brenden Dillon (4) and left wing Eric Nystrom (24) and center Ryan Garbutt (40) celebrate the goal against the Calgary Flames during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday, February 21st

7:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports Southwest

Radio: KTCK-1310 (AM)

Throughout the season, the Dallas Stars have been looking for answers within their lineup. They are looking for consistency and chemistry. They are trying to find the right answers and end their four year playoff drought. Hoping to build off a big comeback win in Vancouver last Thursday, they found themselves on the wrong side of a rally Sunday evening at American Airlines Center. The Stars had a 3-1 lead after two periods, but couldn’t hold it and lost 4-3 to the Calgary Flames.

They are facing the same team that saw starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen leave with a groin injury, the Vancouver Canucks. Since enjoying a six-game win streak, Vancouver has lost three straight games, although two of those losses have been in the shootout which include Monday’s loss as they lost to the Hawks, 4-3.

The Stars are going to be looking for momentum and energy to begin the game against the Canucks. They’re also going to be starting Cristopher Nilstorp in net. Maybe the consistency and chemistry within their lineup will be there. Maybe it will be the same on Sunday where they were on the wrong side of a rally. It’s very difficult to know which Stars team will come out to play. But we are all hoping the right team comes out and wanting to win.

Game Notes

Stars Injuries: Along with Lehtonen, who is out with a strained groin, Dallas is missing Ray Whitney (broken foot) and Trevor Daley (upper body)
Canucks Injuries: Vancouver is missing forward Manny Malhotra, who is on IR and out for the year.

Series Notes

Playing their second of three meetings this season, these teams will meet for the second time in a week before completing their season series on April 18. Dallas won the first matchup 4-3 on Feb. 15, although Vancouver held a slight 2-1-1 edge in last season’s series.

Statistical matchup

Category
Last Game Played:	LOSS 4-3 against the Calgary Flames	LOSS 4-3 (SO) against the Chicago Blackhawks
Game Played	16	15
Record	8-7-1	8-3-4
Streak:	Lost 1	OT 2
Home	3-2-1	5-2-2
Away	5-5-0	3-1-2
Goals/game	2.50 (21st)	2.80 (10th)
Goals against/game	2.69 (17th)	2.20 (6th)
Shots/game	26.5 (28th)	28.9 (15th)
Shots against/game	31.3 (25th)	28.9 (16th)
Power play	16.4% (19th)	19.1% (10th)
Penalty kill	83.3 (12th)	80.3 (21st)
Team Leaders	Stars	Canucks
Goals	Ryder, Jagr, Benn, Eriksson: 4	D. Sedin, Raymond, Kassian: 5
Assists:	Roy: 8	H. Sedin: 13
Points	Jagr: 11	D. Sedin: 16
Goaltenders	Lehtonen: 7-2-1, 2.12, .934 Bachman: 1-3-0, 3.95 .857 Nilstorp, 0-2-0, 2.70, .918	Luongo: 4-0-3, 1.63, .934 Schneider: 4-3-0, 2.64. .915