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Dallas Stars Face Minnesota Wild in Final Road Game of 2017

By Allison Scott

ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle (3) scores on Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop (30) in the 2nd period to make it 2-0 during the preseason game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on September 30, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - SEPTEMBER 30: Minnesota Wild center Charlie Coyle (3) scores on Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop (30) in the 2nd period to make it 2-0 during the preseason game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild on September 30, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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In the battle of the NHL on the road, the Dallas Stars have been less-than-impressive this season. Their away game ventures, however, will end tonight with a visit to Minnesota.

The Dallas Stars have benefited from a string of home games of late, claiming four of six points on their most recent three-game home stand. Now, they’ll play in the State of Hockey to attempt a road win to close out the 2017 road leg of the season.

It will, however, depend on a few things.

Playing like it’s Home

The Stars are lucky that they have home ice advantage working in their favor. Some teams would love to see themselves dominate in their home building, but Dallas has the disadvantage of suffering on the road.

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Lately, this issue hasn’t been too much of an issue. They’ve played an overwhelming number of games on home ice and that will continue to be the trend for the next few weeks.

However, they should approach tonight’s match-up like any of their previous three at home. When Dallas simplifies their game and skates with confidence, they’re a tough team to beat. Unfortunately they haven’t been able to do this on the road this season, but going back to their roots of basic hockey might just be the trick to victory tonight.

Home Sweet Home

The Dallas Stars love to play at home. The Lone Star State serves as their safe haven, which is great for 41 games a season. The other 41, however, are spent visiting other arenas that don’t yield such warm and fuzzy feelings.

Tonight’s match-up is their only road game between now and Jan. 15. That doesn’t mean they should ignore their struggles in opposing team’s buildings, though.

Away games will reappear after Dallas’ unusually long stint without travel soon enough, meaning they’ll need a plan of attack. What that is exactly? Well, it depends on who is in the line-up and what Ken Hitchcock advises, which is a terribly difficult thing to predict.

Next: Stars are the Shining Light in DFW Sports

Hopefully the Stars can end their road game of 2017 on the right note with a victory in Minnesota tonight. If they can’t, though, there will always be the American Airlines Center patiently awaiting their return.

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