Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild – Game Preview
The Dallas Stars have no time to reflect on the difficult lost last night against Detroit, and maybe that is a good thing. Dallas heads to Minnesota tonight to take on the Wild. This is the fifth and final meeting between these two teams and the Wild have won 3 of the previous 4. Puck drop tonight is at 7:00pm CT and the game can be found on NBC Sports Network or 1310AM/96.7FM the Ticket.
Records and Scores
The Dallas Stars (27-23-9) have lost two straight games after winning four out of five games before that. With Minnesota and Los Angeles absolutely on fire, the Stars have very little chance to make up ground in the wildcard race. If the Stars are going to find a way to sneak their way in, they will have to beat the teams that are ahead of them the rest of the way out, and that starts tonight. The Stars are five points back of the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot and eight points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card position. The problem isn’t so much the points, but the fact that they have to jump several teams to get there.
The Minnesota Wild (30-21-7) have been streaking for a while now. They have won two straight headed into this evening and have just one regulation loss in their past month of play. They currently sit just one point back of the Flames and the final playoff spot as well as four points back of the Jets. The Wild had a very difficult start to the season but they look like a dangerous team if they find a way to make the postseason. At the rate they are going, it isn’t absurd to think that they could catch the Chicago Blackhawks for third in the division as they sit just eight points back right now.
Storylines
Stars must put last night behind them
In a way, it is probably good that the Stars are playing back-to-back games. The Stars have shown this season that some bad calls can really ignite this club and this way they have a chance to take it out on the Wild. They also don’t have to sit around and think about it for an extra day or two which has to help. For those wondering what I am referring to, the Dallas Stars lost in overtime last night to the Detroit Red Wings. With just over a minute to go, Justin Abdelkader of the Red Wings pushed Kari Lehtonen just moments before the Red Wings tied the game. It was not called on the ice and goaltender interference is not a reviewable play. It was a difficult loss to swallow as Lehtonen and coach Lindy Ruff were both visibly upset. Unfortunately, these things happen and you have to move on. The fact is, if you score six goals that should be enough to win the game. They have mentally put that loss behind them and get a streak going if they want to be in the postseason.
It is all about Devan Dubynk
On New Years Eve, the Dallas Stars lit up Devan Dubynk and the Arizona Coyotes 6-0. A couple of nights after that, the Stars dominated the Minnesota Wild by a score of 7-1. Both Dubynk and the Wild have changed drastically since then. On January 14th, the Wild acquired Dubynk from Arizona for a third-round pick in the upcoming draft. In 16 appearances with the Wild, Dubynk has gone 12-2-1 with an absurd .938 save percentage and a 1.61 goals against average. He has really turned around not only the Wild’s season, but his own season as well. He was struggling in Arizona and really had a difficult year last season as well. The numbers he has posted for the Wild would lead the NHL if continued for an entire season. Currently he sits fifth in both SV % and GAA. Without Dubynk, the Wild are most likely sitting at the bottom of the division. His arrival has sparked Minnesota to play a much better game and they will look to continue that tonight.
Injury Report
The Stars will be without Travis Moen (upper body) Tyler Seguin (knee), Patrick Eaves (concussion), Patrik Nemeth (arm), Val Nichushkin (hip) and Rich Peverley (heart).
For the Wild, Jared Spurgeon (concussion) is day-to-day, Jason Zucker (clavicle), Matt Cooke (sports hernia), Ryan Carter (upper body) and Keith Ballard (head) are out.
Projected Lines
Dallas Stars
Here are the lines the Stars finished with last night against Detroit:
Jamie Benn – Jason Spezza – Colton Sceviour
Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Ryan Garbutt
Curtis McKenzie – Vernon Fiddler – Ales Hemsky
Erik Cole – Shawn Horcoff – Brett Ritchie
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Jryki Jokipakka – Trevor Daley
Jordie Benn – Jason Demers
Jhonas Enroth
Kari Lehtonen
Minnesota Wild
Nino Niederreiter – Mikko Koivu – Jason Pominville
Zach Parise – Makael Granlund – Justin Fontaine
Thomas Vanek – Charlie Coyle – Jordan Schroeder
Stephane Veilleux – Kyle Brodziak – Erik Haula
Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin
Marco Scandella – Mathew Dumba
Christian Folin – Nate Prosser
Devan Dubynk
Darcy Kuemper
Prediction
The Stars have been playing a ton of games but the emotion of last night could work in their favor. Unfortunately, I do not see them being able to generate a win against the streaking Minnesota Wild tonight. Like he always does against the Stars, Thomas Vanek scores a goal late to give the Wild a 3-2 win over the Stars. Blackout Dallas will have postgame coverage following the contest.