If the NHL handed out points for character to teams that show an ability to stay afloat through severe adversity, the Dallas Stars (24-18-1) might be leading the league right now. Alas, points are only earned through wins, and the Stars face an extremely tough task this week.

Tonight, in the second game of three-in-four stretch (on the heels of a brutal travel week last week), the Stars are in St. Louis to take on Ken Hitchcock's Blues (26-12-6). The game starts at 6:30 PM CST and will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.

This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season, and the second and final one in St. Louis. On Dec. 26, a streaking Blues team dispatched the Stars, 5-3, overcoming a late Dallas rally that saw the club trim a 4-1 deficit to a single goal. Back on Oct. 13, a pre-coaching change Blues team hit a sour note in Dallas, as the Stars captured a 3-2 win in which they jumped out to a 3-0 lead and then narrowly held on for the win.

If the Stars are to get back on the winning track following Saturday's dreadfully dull home loss to Colorado, they will have to overcome not only a tough opponent but two crucial injuries. Top line center Jamie Benn underwent an appendectomy yesterday afternoon, and will be out for 10 days to two weeks. In addition, second line center Mike Ribeiro (MCL tear) will remain out of the lineup until after the All-Star break.

One ray of hope for the Stars: They have had miserable luck this season with key injuries happening in bunches, and yet they've managed to hang around the midseason playoff picture. For a time, they were without both members of the top defensive pairing of Stephane Robidas and Sheldon Souray. Kari Lehtonen missed a moth with a groin pull. At one point, Brenden Morrow and Steve Ott were out at the same time (along with Adam Burish). The Stars are 5-5-0 over their last 10 games.

The Blues have won five of their last six games heading into tonight. On Saturday, they downed Minnesota via shootout, 3-2.

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