Dallas Stars Searching For Merely Revenge vs. Ducks – Preview
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars, fresh off of a dominant win and elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoff race, will be competing for nothing more than style through revenge when they meet up with the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. This will be the third and final meeting between the two teams this season, with the Ducks winning the last two in Dallas and the Stars only gaining one of a possible four points. Tonight’s game will be broadcasted on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), and you can also hear it on 1310AM/96.7FM The Ticket. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM CST from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
Records and Scores
The Dallas Stars are out of the playoff race, so points and standings do not mean a whole lot anymore. Still, the Stars current record of 39-31-10 is good enough for 88 points, which leaves them at sixth place in the Central Division. So not last place, but close. The Stars are aligning for a fantastic run next year, but success can only come from some form of setback, and the Stars setback will be sitting out of the postseason for a year. Oddly enough, the Stars still have a chance at finishing with a better result than last season in regards to points. Their most recent game came as a 5-1 demolition of the San Jose Sharks that was much more fun than it was expected to be. They are 3-2-0 in their last five contests.
The Anaheim Ducks are streaking as they always do. They are currently 50-23-7 with 107 points, good enough for first place in the Pacific Division and first in the Western Conference as a whole. With a loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Ducks fell out of the race for the President’s Trophy, as the New York Rangers officially claimed it Tuesday night. The Ducks most recent game came as a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, in a game where they had a 2-1 lead late in the second. They are 4-1-0 in their last five games.
Storylines
Stars playing for some good ol’ fashioned revenge
It’s no secret that the Dallas Stars did not live up to their expectations this season, and for that reason they will not be counted in the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a playoff berth that shocked the NHL community last season, the Stars tacked on an outstanding offseason and were expected to go far. Their Stanley Cup hopes were shattered last season by the Anaheim Ducks, who were challenged by Dallas but ultimately came up with a 4-2 series decision against Dallas. So, it only seems fitting that with nothing left to lose the Stars will get to take a shot at Anaheim. Nothing left on the brain except some hefty revenge. This will be the Stars first time back at the Honda Center since the playoff series last year. So there is a good chance that things may get violent tonight, and that is just the way we like it.
Ducks could experience another challenge in first round
With a playoff berth and most likely first overall seed in the West, the Ducks may be staring down another tough road to the Cup in the first round. With the LA Kings faltering late like Dallas, it looks like the Winnipeg Jets will be getting the final wild card spot. The Jets are on a tear and are looking to make some noise in the playoffs for the first time since the franchise moved from Atlanta. It could be a struggle, so the Ducks will need to be on their toes as they were last season when Dallas threatened them.
Injury report
The Dallas Stars will play with a completely clean and healthy lineup tonight vs. Anaheim. F Rich Peverley (heart) remains on non-playing IR.
The Anaheim Ducks will be minus the services of D Clayton Stoner (lower body) and D Sheldon Souray (wrist).
Projected lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Eaves
Shawn Horcoff – Jason Spezza – Ales Hemsky
Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Ryan Garbutt
Travis Moen – Vernon Fiddler – Colton Sceviour
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Jyrki Jokipakka – Trevor Daley
Jordie Benn – Jason Demers
Jhonas Enroth
Kari Lehtonen
Anaheim Ducks
Matt Beleskey – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Jiri Sekac – Rickard Rakell – Kyle Palmieri
Patrick Maroon – Nate Thompson – Tim Jackman
Hampus Lindholm – Francois Beauchemin
Cam Fowler – Sami Vatanen
Simon Despres – James Wisniewski
Frederik Andersen
John Gibson
Prediction
The Dallas Stars come out with a determined force and a hot hand and dismantle the Ducks by a score of 4-2.