Dallas Stars Face Pacific Division-Leading Kings

The Dallas Stars are hoping to take a more commanding lead in the race for the Central Division title today in an afternoon visit to Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Kings. Puck drop is set for 3p.m. and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Southwest.

Records and Scores

The Stars (47-22-9) earned a victory over the Arizona Coyotes Thursday in a 5-2 outing. That win gave them 103 points on the season and allowed them to increase their lead on St. Louis in the standings. Stars captain Jamie Benn scored his 40th goal of the season in the win as well. Dallas will look for a similar effort this afternoon.

The Kings (46-26-5) are leading the Pacific Division with 97 points, giving them a one-point advantage over the Anaheim Ducks. They most recently shutout the Calgary Flames in a 3-0 win Thursday night and they’ll aim to best the Stars at home today.

Story Lines

Rising Stars

The Dallas Stars have surprised almost everyone with their play of late. Although their game has been far from perfect, they’ve managed to find ways to win and, more importantly, have earned regulation wins.

Dallas is a talented team without a doubt, but their inconstancy in the 2016 leg of the season was a concern to many. They’ve, however, been able to turn it around and find their stride of late, which is something they can hope will last into the postseason.

The two Finnish Stars goaltenders in Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have also been a big factor in Dallas finding their game. Both net minders have gone into match-ups and played really solid games for the team following a disappointing stretch of performances. Goaltending is vital to playoff success, so both goalies finding ways to win is very important.

Dallas can hope for a similar outcome in tonight’s match-up against the Pacific Division-leading Kings.

Career Seasons

Another factor that’s allowed the Stars to overtake the Central Division lead once again has been at the hands of Jamie Benn. He tied his Art Ross winning number of 87 points last game with his 40th goal of the season, making him one point away from beating his career best.

Although the points are impressive in and of themselves, the stat that is most reflective of his growth is his plus-minus. Last year he ended the season plus-1 in 82 games and this year he’s plus-10 having played all 78 thus far. While it’s not always the most accurate stat, it goes to show that Benn is a defensive minded player as well, which is yet another way no. 14 leads by example.

Antoine Roussel is also having one of his best seasons in his career thus far. He has 28 points in 76 games, which is one shy of his 2012-14 career high of 29. Like Benn Roussel has improved his defensive responsibility as well jumping from a staggering minus-20 last season to plus-8 heading into tonight.

No. 21’s penalty minutes have also been cut back this season and although he leads the team with 117, it’s dramatically less than his 2013-14 total of 209.

When more than one player is having the best season of their career, the entire team benefits and that’s exactly the case in Dallas. The Stars will hope for both Benn and Roussel to surpass their previous point totals in this afternoon’s match-up.

Injuries

Dallas will be without Tyler Seguin (Achilles Tendon), Jason Demers (shoulder), Brett Ritchie (lower-body) and Kris Russell (lower-body).

Los Angeles will most likely play without Kris Versteeg (foot) who hasn’t played since mid-March. Marian Gaborik (lower-body) and Matt Greene (upper-body) won’t play.

Line Combinations

Dallas Stars

Jamie Benn – Cody Eakin – Patrick Sharp

Mattias Janmark – Jason Spezza – Valeri Nichushkin

Antoine Roussel – Radek Faksa – Ales Hemsky

Colton Sceviour – Vernon Fiddler – Patrick Eaves

Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg

Johnny Oduya – Stephen Johns

Patrik Nemeth – Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen

Antti Niemi

Los Angeles Kings