Dallas Stars Shoot To Down Blackhawks, Clinch Playoff Berth
With playoff berth clinching in sight, the Dallas Stars will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the last game of their season series.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM from the United Center, and you can catch all the action on FSSW or 1310 AM/96.7 FM The Ticket.
Records and Scores
Dallas Stars
With three of four games against Chicago ending in Dallas’ favor, the Stars will head to Chicago with a 43-21-9 record in hopes of repeating previous performances. After a 3-1-1 record on a five game home stand, ending with a shutout of the Islanders, the Stars seem to be in a good place in terms of dealing with the loss of certain personnel.
Chicago Blackhawks
After dropping 7 of their last 9 games against Western conference contenders, the Blackhawks bring a 42-24-7 record as they host the Stars. Sitting four points back from the Stars and with the Blues ahead of them in the Central division race, the Blackhawks will be looking to keep the Stars from falling into a playoff spot.
Storylines
Coming in clinch
The Dallas Stars have a chance to nail down a playoff spot tonight in Chicago. After missing their chance on Sunday due to Minnesota’s win (albeit over Chicago), the Stars will no doubt take advantage of this chance. Thanks to a Predators win yesterday, the LA Kings were held off from topping the West. Now all the Stars have to do is win, and keep winning.
Dry spell in Chicago
While the Stars have worked for the number one offense in the league, the defending Stanley Cup champs are in a bit of a muck. In the last five games, they have gone 0-17 on the power play, and now have the sixth highest goals against in the league (2.42). In their nine games in the month of March, the Blackhawks have seen only three wins.
Leht’s Russell in that playoff spot we’ve Benn working for!
Despite players dropping like flies, the Stars have rallied to stay on top of the game. After maintenance days yesterday, both Kris Russell and Alex Goligoski will most likely be back in action to complete the Dallas Stars’ newly invigorated defense. And after starting seven of the Stars’ last eight games, Kari Lehtonen seems both comfortable and formidable in net, in a much better place than around this time last year.
Captain Jamie Benn, on the other hand, seems back to his old self, which is a very good thing. With nine points in the last seven games, he’s the NHL’s second leading scorer and is very capable of keeping the Stars on track in the midst of injuries.
More stars: Dallas Stars Have Lines For Long-Haul
Injury Report
For the Dallas Stars, Jordie Benn (lower body) is probable for tonight and Mattias Janmark (upper body) is questionable, while Tyler Seguin (Achilles) and Jason Demers (shoulder) will for sure be sitting this one out.
The Blackhawks will be without goalie Corey Crawford (upper body) who is day to day, and Marcus Kruger (wrist).
Projected Lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn –Cody Eakin –Patrick Sharp
Valeri Nichushkin –Jason Spezza –Patrick Eaves
Antoine Roussel –Radek Faksa –Ales Hemsky
Colton Sceviour –Vernon Fiddler –Brett Ritchie
Kris Russell –Alex Goligoski
Kari Lehtonen
Chicago Blackhawks
Andrew Ladd –Jonathan Toews –Marian Hossa
Artemi Panarin –Artem Anisimov –Patrick Kane
Tomas Fleischmann –Teuvo Teravainen –Dale Weise
Richard Panik –Andrew Shaw –Andrew Desjardins
Duncan Keith –Niklas Hjalmarsson
Erik Gustafsson –Brent Seabrook
Trevor van Riemsdyk –Michal Rozsival
Next: Dallas Stars Fans Need To Acknowledge Where They Are
Predictions
In each of the previous Stars and Blackhawks meetings, the final score was dictated by a lead of two goals or more. Tonight, the Stars will be the ones in the lead, as they come out strong to clinch a playoff spot and down the Blackhawks 5-2.