Dallas Stars Look To Leaf It All On The Ice
Because who doesn’t like a good Leafs pun.
The Dallas Stars return to the AAC tonight after a nearly perfect (3-1-0) 4 game road trip looking for some redemption against the Maple Leafs, who started out the Stars’ trip on a sour note, dousing out their last 3 game winning streak in Toronto.
The Leafs were the last team the Stars have lost to since November 2nd, when the teams went head to head. Now the Stars will get a chance to prove the embarrassing loss a fluke and move on with a stellar season.
The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest (FSSW) at 7:30 CT Aand you can also catch it on 1310 AM/96.7 The Ticket.
Records and Scores
The Stars are now 12-3-0 for the season, coming off a 4 game road trip in which they bested Boston, Carolina, and Detroit. It’s old news, but the kind you can never hear too many times: the Stars are first place in the Central Division and the Western Conference, and are second overall in the NHL.
The Leafs can identify with the Stars’ last season struggle, but have yet to find their stride this season. With a 2-8-4 record, the Leafs will be desperate for another win over the up-and-coming Stars. The Leafs’ last two games went into overtime; their tilt against the Red Wings at home ended in an overtime loss, and they lost their most recent contest to the Capitals in a shootout.
The Leafs have won two games this season: one against the Blue Jackets and one against the Stars. Both those games inspired high-volume scoring on the Leafs’ part, with 6 goals scored against Columbus and 4 against Dallas.
Story Lines
Home, Home On The Range
The Stars have been phenomenally better at home this season, losing only one game so far at the AAC. While there’s no two ways about that, even Lindy Ruff admitted at Monday’s morning skate that the first game back home after a road trip can be a bit of a “trap game.”
The Stars experienced this when they returned home in late October riding the high from a perfect 4 game road trip, only to fall to the Panthers on home ice 6-2. Ruff made Monday’s morning skate mandatory and committed to “finding the right plan” for a Stars home success.
A Sky Full of Stars
Tyler Seguin was named the NHL’s second star of the week after an impressive performance on the Stars’ road trip, where he notched 4 points for goals and 3 for assists. He is currently tied with Patrick Kane for the lead in league scoring at 23 points, with Jamie Benn close behind at 21. Hopefully, Seguin can continue his 8 game point streak tonight and make it 9.
The Kids Are Alright
Rookie Radek Faksa scored his first NHL goal in Friday’s road win against the Hurricanes. Joining the Stars on the road trip was new call-up Devin Shore, who is however likely to be a scratch when the Stars return to the AAC tonight. Mattias Janmark is still making his mark with the Stars, with 6 points and 3 goals in 15 games.
Injury Report
Antoine Roussel (upper body), Patrick Eaves (upper body), Travis Moen (lower body), and Curtis McKenzie (hip) have all fallen victim to injury this season. However, Roussel, Eaves, and Moen were able to participate in Monday morning’s practice and Ruff okayed Roussel for tonight’s game.
Moen and Eaves still have a ways to go and more practices to get in after missing 11 and 12 games, respectively, and will therefore be out against the Leafs tonight along with McKenzie.
More from Blackout Dallas
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
- Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
- Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs
The Leafs will be missing goalie Jonathan Bernier, who is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Captain Dion Phaneuf, who did not participate in practice yesterday due to flu, is expected to join the team on the trip to Dallas. Daniel Winnik picked up a lower body injury against the Capitals on Saturday, and is unsure for tonight’s game.
Projected Lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn- Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp
Mattias Janmark – Cody Eakin – Jason Spezza
Ales Hemsky – Vernon Fiddler – Colton Sceviour
Antoine Roussel – Radek Faksa – Valeri Nichushkin
(Travis Moen – Devin Shore – Patrick Eaves)
Alex Goligoski – John Klingberg
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen
More from Blackout Dallas
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
- Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
- Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
James van Riemsdyk – Nazem Kadri – Leo Komarov
Shawn Matthias – Tyler Bozak – Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau
Daniel Winnik – Nick Spaling – Joffrey Lupul
Michael Grabner – Byron Froese – Brad Boyes
Jake Gardiner – Dion Phaneuf
Matt Hunwick – Morgan Rielly
Scott Harrington – Roman Polak
James Reimer
Antoine Bibeau
Next: Dallas Stars Broadening Horizons: To The Fourth Line And Beyond
Predictions
The Stars will hit the home stand with more confidence after setting a franchise record for best start in 15 games. The Leafs will try to outshoot them, but Lehtonen will put his foot down and the Stars will come out on top 3-1.