Dallas Stars To Show Blue Jackets Who’s Boss At Home
The Dallas Stars prepare to battle the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in hopes of putting their last lost to the Blues behind them and remaining atop the NHL charts.
After a two day break, the Dallas Stars will hit home ice and host the Blue Jackets for their first match-up this season. Both teams are looking to bounce back from a loss.
Puck drop will be at 7:30 CT at American Airlines Center. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest Plus (FSSW+), and1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket.
Records and Scores
Your Dallas Stars, despite being shut out for the first time this season by the Blues, are still sitting pretty on top of the NHL with 46 points. With a 22-6-2 record, they are one of only two teams that have yet to sustain consecutive losses (the other being the Washington Capitals).
Tonight’s game will start a three game home stand, in which the Stars will look to demonstrate their ability to start off strong instead of just comeback in the third period.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be striving to snap back from four consecutive games lost, the latest to Tampa Bay on home ice yesterday. With their 11-18-3 record, they currently occupy eighth place in the Metropolitan Division with 25 points in 32 games played.
Storylines
So We Have a Little History
Although they’ve yet to face each other this season, the Stars and Blue Jackets have a little history. Despite the Dallas Stars’ current season home record of 11-3-0 and their 7-0-0 record against the Metropolitan Division, the Blue Jackets have come out the victor in each of their last four contests at the AAC; the Stars’ last home victory against them was in 2011.
The Blue Jackets are 3-5-0 this season against the Murder Death Kill Division, and are 2-4-0 in their last six games on the road. They have also allowed the most third period goals of any NHL team this season, at 41. With the Stars’ aptitude for coming back to right their wrongs in the last 20 minutes of play, a victory tonight could be written in the stars.
Bringing Home the Bacon
If the Dallas Stars have done one thing consistently this season, it’s entertain. And in adrenalin-laced and power-packed games that sometimes have not turned out in their favor, they continue to rack up points and prove themselves productive.
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Co-leading the Stars in points are Captain Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, both with 40. Following close behind is John Klingberg with 30, Patrick Sharp with 22, and Jason Spezza with 20. The volume at which the Stars’ offense (and often defense) can seek out plays and click is pretty special, something to remember especially on those nights which end in fluke losses.
Co-leading the Blue Jackets in points are Scott Hartnell and Ryan Johansen, both with 22. Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner, and Brandon Saad follow close behind with 18 each. The Blue Jackets’ point leaders have a rating of -9 and -5, respectively. For some perspective, take note that Jamie Benn and Klingberg have a +10 rating, while Seguin has a +9. Just in case you were wondering.
Injury Report
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars should be running on all cylinders tonight, with no players out injured.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets will be missing Sergei Bobrovsky (groin), Rene Bourque (upper body), Cody Goloubef (jaw) and Markus Hannikainen (shoulder) in tonight’s tilt.
Projected Lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Valeri Nichushkin
Mattias Janmark – Jason Spezza- Patrick Eaves
Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Patrick Sharp
Colton Sceviour/Travis Moen – Vernon Fiddler – Ales Hemsky
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Jyrki Jokipakka – Patrik Nemeth
Columbus Blue Jackets
Boone Jenner – Ryan Johansen – Brandon Saad
Scott Hartnell – Alexander Wennberg – Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert – Brandon Dubinksy – David Clarkson
Ryan Murray – Andrew Bodnarchuck
Fedor Tyutin – Kevin Connauton
Next: Dallas Stars Earn Their Stripes When Chips Are Down
Predictions
The Dallas Stars will have learned the value of coming out strong, and will want to put the shutout loss to the Blues far behind them. The Stars will come out strong and with their jet-boosted offense and, considering the Blue Jackets’ 95 GA this season, the Dallas Stars will be the victors in a 4-1 game.