The Dallas Stars finish up a short two-game home stand tonight against a Central Division rival. Can they end it on a high note?
The Dallas Stars will host the Nashville Predators tonight in hopes of completing their two-game home stand with a victory. Puck drop is set for 7:30PM CT.
Records and Scores
Dallas (10-11-6) once again fell below .500 with a 2-1 regulation loss to the Calgary Flames Tuesday night. They had a good start and got the first goal, but were unable to overcome a late power play goal by the Flames to come out with at least a point. Tonight they will be looking for a different result.
Nashville (12-9-4) defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in regulation Tuesday night. They will be looking to spark a winning streak as they visit the Stars tonight.
Storylines
Another Fallen Star
Dallas’ string of injuries seemed to have slowed down, until Patrick Sharp was put back on injured reserve for concussion-like symptoms and Julius Honka left Tuesday night’s game with a upper-body injury.
With both a forward and another defender out, the Stars are once again feeling the impact of injury woes. Nonetheless, Dallas has to play well regardless of who is in or out of the line-up, which is something that has proven difficult for the club thus far.
On the brighter side of the injury scene is that Johnny Oduya and Jiri Hudler are looking to be nearing returns. Oduya has been out since sustaining a lower-body injury in a game on November 19. Hudler has only played in four games this season having been dealing with the repercussions of a virus of sorts.
Best Players Have Not Been Their Best
One of the other big issues the Stars have faced this season is that their top players have not been fulfilling their role. Jamie Benn has 21 points (7G, 14A) in 27 games for the Stars, but has been noticeably not himself on the ice.
The 27-year-old forward has not been skating with the confidence or determination that he normally has. He has not been able to maintain possession of the puck like he once did. He is not the Jamie Benn we all know and love.
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Perhaps there is some underlying issue being that he has had some major offseason surgeries each of the last two years. That, however, still would not account for the lack of drive in his play.
Along the same lines have been the struggles of Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza. The two forwards have had issues winning face-offs at key moments of games, especially in the defensive zone. They have not been able to put pucks in the net at even-strength and their energy is also noticeably down.
Dallas will need all of their top players to play well, especially with all of the lineup changes they are experiencing due to injury, if they wish to win tonight. Or any night for that matter.
Injuries
Dallas will play without Patrick Sharp (concussion), Ales Hemsky (groin), Mattias Janmark (knee) in the line-up. Jiri Hudler (illness) and Johnny Oduya (lower-body) have been practicing, but are unlikely to play as well. Julius Honka (upper-body) is expected to miss a few games after sustaining an injury in Tuesday night’s game.
The Predators will be without Ryan Ellis (upper-body), Miikka Salomaki (conditioning stint following an upper-body injury), Colton Sissons (upper-body) and Anthony Bitetto (broken hand).
Line Combination Predictions
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Brett Ritchie
Antoine Roussel – Radek Faksa – Jason Spezza
Lauri Korpikoski – Cody Eakin – Patrick Eaves
Curtis McKenzie – Devin Shore – Jason Dickinson
Nashville Predators
Viktor Arvidsson – Ryan Johansen – Craig Smith
Filip Forsberg – Mike Ribeiro – Kevin Fiala
Colin Wilson – Mike Fisher – James Neal
Frederick Gaudreau – Calle Jarnkrok – Austin Watson
Yannick Weber – Petter Granberg
Prediction
Dallas will put together a strong effort, but ultimately fall to the Predators 3-2 in regulation.