Dallas Stars to Battle Blackhawks For Central Lead

Feb 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) fight for a face off during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) fight for a face off during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Stars will be put to the test tonight trying to pull ahead in the points race against the Blackhawks, with more challenges to follow.

After snapping a two game win streak with an overtime loss in Montreal, the Stars will play two crucial games at home, first against the Blackhawks and then against the Blues.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM from the AAC, but you can also catch all the action at FSSW or 1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket.

Records and Scores

The Dallas Stars had cured a bit of a slump with a two-game win streak, but after the loss to Montreal, have a 40-20-8 record to improve upon. In this season series against the Blackhawks, the Stars are 2-1-0 with four points. However, everyone remembers well the Stars’ one massive blowout against Chicago, and nobody wants to go back.

The Chicago Blackhawks have won two of their last four, with one regulation and one overtime loss in that span. The most recent of which was their overtime loss to the Blues, allowing the Stars to creep into first-place in the Central division alongside Chicago. In the season series against the Stars, the Blackhawks have lost both at home and on the road.

Storylines

Stand outs and sit downs

In the metaphorical scoring absence of their bigger guns, the Stars have thankfully been able to rely on many players who’ve stepped up to shoulder the responsibility. One of those has been Jason Spezza, with seven goals in his last eight games. Alex Goligoski, Ales Hemsky, Colton Sceviour and Mattias Janmark have all been standouts offensively, with everybody chipping in.

Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin still lead the team in points, with 73 and 68 respectively, but seem to have figuratively gone on a vacation of sorts when it comes to sustainable scoring. When they’ll click again, nobody knows. But in the wake of a 7 game goal drought (in which only Seguin has scored a single goal) they could very likely be playing this game on separate lines to try and jumpstart something, so we’ll stay on high alert just in case tonight is the night.

Golden opportunities

With a determinate chunk of the Stars’ defense out injured for no small bit of time, Stephen Johns will get his highly anticipated NHL debut tonight, ironically, against his former team.

In the AHL, Johns has registered 4 goals and 20 assists with the Texas Stars, and at 6’4 and 225, will hopefully be able to provide some physicality and intimidation factor as the Stars attempt to hold their blue line together with playoffs on the horizon.

More stars: Dallas Stars Going With Stephen Johns In Wake of Injuries

Poking holes in the armor

Past match-ups between the Stars and Blackhawks have been high-intensity and either very, very good or very, very bad and come at defining points in the season. Now, the Stars will need to take advantage of any weaknesses in order to pull ahead in the standings.

One such weakness is the Blackhawks’ penalty kill. As Chicago has allowed 12 power play goals in the last 14 games, a key for the Stars will be to play smart and draw penalties instead of take them.

Injury Report

And goodness are there injuries to report. The Dallas Stars will be facing the Hawks without the help of John Klingberg (lower body), Jason Demers (shoulder), Jordie Benn (lower body), and Patrick Sharp (lower body). With that list including three defenseman and two of the Stars’ point leaders, Dallas will need laser focus to succeed in their absence.

The Chicago Blackhawks are anticipating the possible return of Marian Hossa, who missed nine games with a leg injury. However, Marcus Kruger (wrist) will be a definite no-go.

Projected Line-ups

Dallas Stars

Jamie BennCody EakinPatrick Eaves

Valeri NichushkinJason SpezzaBrett Ritchie

Antoine RousselTyler SeguinAles Hemsky

Mattias JanmarkVernon FiddlerColton Sceviour

Kris RussellAlex Goligoski

Johnny Oduya –Stephen Johns

Patrik NemethJamie Oleksiak

Antti Niemi

Kari Lehtonen

Chicago Blackhawks

Andrew LaddJonathan ToewsAndrew Shaw

Artemi PanarinArtem AnisimovPatrick Kane

Andrew DesjardinsTeuvo TeravainenTomas Fleischmann

Brandon MashinterDennis RasmussenDale Weise

Duncan KeithNiklas Hjalmarsson

Erik GustafssonBrent Seabrook

Trevor van RiemsdykMichal Rozsival

Corey Crawford

Scott Darling

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Predictions

It’ll be an adrenalin-laced, high-powered one to say the least. The Stars will want to get back a Chicago for their last 5-1 loss to them at home. I think this one will go into overtime with a 4-3 decision for the Stars.