Dallas Stars Take on Division-Leading Chicago Blackhawks
The Dallas Stars will play their first game at home since the All Star Break in hopes of establishing a four-game winning streak with a win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is set for 7PM and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Southwest Plus or NHL Network.
Records
The Stars (33-14-5) have played 52 of their 82 game regular season giving them 71 points on the year thus far. They sit three-points back of the Hawks for the division lead, but have three games in hand as well. Dallas will aim to make their games in hand count by beating the Hawks tonight at home.
Chicago is (35-26-4) through 55 games played. They over took the division lead from the Stars with an incredible 11 wins in 14 games during the month of January. They’ll look to increase their lead on the division with a win tonight in Dallas.
Story Lines
Rejuvenated Club
The Stars have been victorious in their first two-games since returning from the All Star Break. More importantly, they look like they did when they were establishing their season back in October. Dallas is fully aware that they still are fighting for a playoff spot and they’re using that knowledge as motivation.
While the rest and relaxation of the five days off may be doing the trick, it’s more about the dedication of the entire team. They’re playing team hockey and they know exactly what it is they have to do to win.
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Adversity Strikes
In Thursday night’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche the Stars lost Jason Spezza to an upper body injury and he didn’t return. It seems as if he’ll miss a few days at the very least, meaning other Dallas forwards have to step up.
Potentially the Stars could see a forward from the Texas Stars called up, or maybe a healthy scratch might find their way into the line-up. Regardless of personnel choices, the Dallas Stars have to prove that they’re just as good of a team when one of their talented forwards is out of the game.
Injury Report
The Stars will be without Spezza (upper-body) tonight and could be without Jordie Benn (lower-body) and Colton Sceviour (head) depending on how they’re doing.
Chicago will play without Marcus Kruger (wrist) and Michal Rozsival (lower-body).
Lines
Dallas Stars*
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp
Valeri Nichushkin – Cody Eakin – Ales Hemsky
Antoine Roussel – Mattias Janmark – Patrick Eaves
Radek Faksa – Vernon Fiddler – Travis Moen
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
*The forward lines are a rough guess of what the lines could be, but it really depends on how Lindy Ruff wants to position players.
Chicago Blackhawks
Andrew Shaw – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa
Artemi Panarin – Artem Anisimov – Patrick Kane
Andrew Desjardins – Phillip Danault – Richard Panik
Brandon Mashinter – Dennis Rasmussin – Juri Sekac
Duncan Keith – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Erik Gustafsson – Brent Seabrook
Trevor van Riemsdyk – Viktor Svedberg
Corey Crawford
Scott Darling
Next: Jamie Benn's Shot at Art Ross Repeat
Prediction
The Dallas Stars will be victorious over the Hawks by a score of 4-2.