Dallas Stars Return from Break to Host the Arizona Coyotes

The one-week hiatus is over and the Dallas Stars are lacing the skates up yet again. Tonight they take on the Arizona Coyotes in hopes of starting just their fourth win streak this season.

The Dallas Stars’ five-day break from hockey was much-needed. They have had an abysmal month and will look to get back on track as they return to the American Airlines Center to host the Arizona Coyotes tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:30PM CT.

Records and Scores

Dallas (23-27-10) went into the break after a huge 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Stars had been winless in three heading into that game and although their playoff hopes remain low, a loss would have been devastating. Tonight they will hope to find success against the Coyotes at home.

Arizona (21-31-7) is also having a less-than-impressive season. They most recently lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in last night’s 6-3 game. The Coyotes will aim for a different result tonight as they visit the Stars.

Storylines

Make a Statement

A key to a Stars victory tonight is coming in strong. Although they just came back from beach vacations and relaxing hours spent not thinking about the game, they need to harness their hunger in tonight’s match-up. Their season may not have gone as planned thus far, but finishing strong will be a true testament to their character as a team.

What does that look like? Dallas needs to come out skating. They have to get their legs going beneath them if they want to be able to jump right back into things and end the night saluting their fans. Slow starts and falling behind early need to be a thing of the past if they wish to defeat the Coyotes, especially considering Arizona traveled last night.

More from Analysis

• Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
• Taking a look at the teams the Dallas Stars will be playing in the preseason
• Should the Dallas Stars revisit signing Patrick Kane this season?
• Realistic regular season stats for Dallas Stars Roope Hintz
• Realistic regular season stats for Dallas Stars Joe Pavelski

They should also be considering their future. Dallas’ roster is by no means a safe place to be right now. The trade deadline will rear its ugly, but terribly exciting, head in the near future and no Stars player is safe. While there are certainly guys with a significantly minuscule possibility of not kicking off the 2017-18 campaign in Victory Green, there is always a chance that the ‘perfect’ trade could come along.

For this reason, every Stars player needs to perform their best. Although hockey is a team sport, this time of the season with this much on the line for them as individual players means there will likely need to be a selfish aspect to the game as well.

Cleaning Off the Rust

Dallas will undoubtedly and understandably have some rust. They have not played in an NHL caliber game since that victory last Saturday and it will take a lot of effort to get the swing of things again.

If, more likely when, issues arise from their break from the ice Dallas needs to have support throughout the line-up. That means being positionally strong and mentally smart in their approach. The Stars will need everyone to have one another’s back and make up for each other’s mistakes as much as humanly possible if they really want to kick off their return to the ice the right way.

This goes for goaltenders too. Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen are arguably two of the least safe individuals on Dallas’ roster at the moment, especially considering the Stars were rather seriously pursuing other net minders last offseason. They have a lot to prove and if whomever gets the nod tonight can step up and steal a game for the Stars with a high quality performance, he will certainly capture the attention of those making important decisions about the future of the crease for Dallas.

Injuries

The Stars will go without Mattias Janmark (knee) in tonight’s line-up. Johnny Oduya (lower-body) is skating and possible for tonight, while Ales Hemsky (hip) will remain sidelined.

Arizona will not have Brad Richardson (broken tibia and fibula), Lawson Crouse (lower-body) or Louis Domingue (lower-body) in tonight’s line-up.

Line Predictions

Dallas Stars

Jamie Benn – Cody Eakin – Patrick Eaves

Antoine Roussel – Tyler Seguin – Patrick Sharp

Curtis McKenzie – Radek Faksa – Brett Ritchie

Lauri Korpikoski – Devin Shore – Jason Spezza

Esa Lindell – John Klingberg

Dan Hamhuis – Jordie Benn

Patrik Nemeth – Jamie Oleksiak

Antti Niemi

Kari Lehtonen

Arizona Coyotes

Max Domi – Martin Hanzal – Radim Vrbata

Brendan Perlini – Christian Dvorak – Shane Doan

Jamie McGinn – Alex Burmistrov – Josh Jooris

Tobias Rieder – Jordan Martinook – Ryan White

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Luke Schenn

Alex Goligoski – Connor Murphy

Jakob Chychrun – Kevin Connauton

Mike Smith

Marek Langhamer

Next: Results Versus Coyotes Will Speak Volumes for the Stars

Score Prediction

The Stars will come out on top in their return from break as they defeat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 at home.