Dallas Stars News: Justin Dowling Recalled For Game Against Penguins
By Josh Clark
Justin Dowling is back in the NHL. The Dallas Stars recalled him from the AHL on Saturday morning ahead of tonight’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he’s expected to be in the lineup for the game.
It’s another big night for the Dallas Stars.
On Saturday night, the Stars will wrap up a five-game homestand against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And after a 1-2-1 start to the stand, the need for points is obvious.
The playoff race is in full swing. And as the Western Conference playoff swing tightens up and teams continue to dig into the final sprint, the Stars are in a potentially dangerous spot. They still own sole control of the first wild card spot, but have seen their lead on the playoff wall shrink from seven points to four in the past few days.
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With Minnesota, Colorado, and Arizona trailing close behind, the Stars’ lack of points over the past eight days is putting their hopes in a compromised position. That’s why Saturday’s game is so important. With the teams around Dallas also in action tonight, there’s an opportunity to get ahead, hold steady, or fall further into the danger zone.
And with an important game on tap, the Dallas Stars are going with a different look.
The Stars recalled center Justin Dowling from the Texas Stars (AHL) on Saturday morning. It’s Dowling’s second recall this year and his first time in the NHL since early November.
Back at the beginning of the season, Dowling played six games with Dallas. He tallied no goals, one assist, a -1 rating, and five shots on goal in 12:37 average ice time.
In the AHL, Dowling currently leads all Texas Stars in points with 53 in 62 games. He’s a setup center that can help make plays and drive offensive possession. And on Saturday night, the Stars will rely on him drive the top six.
Dallas held an optional skate at the American Airlines Center and only a handful of skaters participated. Jason Spezza and Brett Ritchie were in the group and skated late, which pointed to them being the presumed healthy scratches on offense.
And as of 5 p.m. on Saturday, that assumption was verified.
Here’s the projected Dallas Stars lineup for tonight against the Penguins:
Roope Hintz – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov
Jamie Benn – Justin Dowling – Joel L’Esperance
Mattias Janmark – Radek Faksa – Blake Comeau
Andrew Cogliano – Jason Dickinson – Valeri Nichushkin
It’s a similar lineup to the one that the Stars used in their loss on Thursday against the Avalanche. But with Dowling in the top six, Dallas is banking on the forward to help boost an offensive scoring push that only found the back of the net one time in their last outing.
Saturday night offers another critical opportunity at two points. And with the playoff race closing in on the final two weeks, it’s two points that the Stars could really use before taking off for a four-game trip.