Dallas Stars Bring Firepower Back Home vs. Florida

After a dominant, undefeated four-game road trip, the Dallas Stars are back home, and return to the ice tonight at the American Airlines Center against the Florida Panthers.

The Stars now have a four-game home stand, and are coming home at the perfect time. Dallas is playing remarkable hockey, and haven’t lost in two weeks.

Puck drop is at 7:00. Tonight’s match-up can be watched on Fox Sports Southwest (FSSW) and for all radio listeners, it will be broadcasted on 1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket.

Records and Scores

The Dallas Stars, who are on a five-game win streak, are 6-1-0 on this new season. After losing to the Colorado Avalanche back on October 10th, Dallas came back by defeating the Oilers at home, then winning all four games on the latest road trip.

The Florida Panthers (3-3-1), who started off 3-0-1, lost to the Stars on October 17th, which began a three-game losing skid. Florida, led by 43-year-old NHL legend Jaromir Jagr, are looking to get revenge on Dallas and get back to their early-season winning ways.

Storylines

Both Jamie Benn (6G, 4A) and Tyler Seguin (4A, 6G) have 10 points in just seven games thus far. The first-liners are proving both of their all-star capability and have anchored this Stars team to the top of the Central Division.

Stars fans can talk about the offensive explosiveness all day long, but it’s key to recognize that the Dallas Stars have been receiving exceptional play by both goaltenders Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi. Both Finnish net-minders are showing that they are pushing each other, in the process helping one another. Lehtonen has a undefeated record of 3-0-0 and a save percentage of .920%, and tops it off with a 2.34 GAA. Niemi, has a 3-1-0 record, a jaw-dropping 2.00 GAA, and has saved 94% of the shots that have came his way.

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While the Stars offense is consistently brilliant, the two men’s work between the posts have not gone unnoticed. Tonight, Kari will be in the crease.

Last, but arguably the most important, is that Dallas Stars defenseman Jason Demers has been suspended for tonight’s game, as well as next Tuesday’s against the Anaheim Ducks. With 16:48 remaining in Thursday’s game against Pittsburgh, Demers was given a major penalty as well as a game misconduct for kneeing Penguins forward Nick Bonino. With Demers inactive for tonight’s game vs Florida, Lindy Ruff is bringing both Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth to play tonight.

Injury Report

Dallas is still enduring early-season injuries. Patrick Eaves is still out with a lower body, and Curtis McKenzie has not played since last Thursday, due to the same injury. Travis Moen, with an upper body, will also not play in tonight’s contest.

The Panthers have a key center out of tonight’s contest. Aleksander Barkov is out due to a upper body injury.

Projected Lines

Dallas Stars

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp

Mattias Janmark – Jason Spezza – Valeri Nichushkin

Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Ales Hemsky

Vernon Fiddler – Radek Faksa – Colton Sceviour

Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg

Jordie Benn – Johnny Oduya

Patrik Nemeth – Jamie Oleksiak

Kari Lehtonen

Antti Niemi

Florida Panthers

Jonathan Huberdeau – Nick Bjugstad – Jaromir Jagr

Brandon Pirri – Vincent Trocheck – Reilly Smith

Jussi Jokinen – Dave Bolland – Connor Brickley

Quinton Howden – Derek MacKenzie – Shawn Thorton

Brian Campbell – Aaron Ekblad

Willie Mitchell – Erik Gudbranson

Dmitry Kulikov – Alex Petrovic

Roberto Luongo

Al Montoya

Prediction

Knowing the Stars defeated the Panthers last week, and with the way the victory green have been playing in these last five games, I’m going with the Stars to win 3-1.

Not only that, but I also think this is the night for Patrick Sharp to net his first goal as a Dallas Star.

And hopefully, for Stars fans, the first of many.

Next: Dallas Stars Carrying Over Last Season's Success On Road

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