PREVIEW 7:30 AM CST
With the All-Star break now in the rear view mirror, crunch time starts tonight for the Dallas Stars (25-21-2) as they kick off an extremely busy February schedule with a Pacific coast trip to play the Anaheim Ducks (19-23-7). The game starts at 9:30 PM CST (7:30 PM PST) and will be broadcast locally on Fox Sports Southwest.
Tonight's game is the fifth of six meetings between the teams this season, and the third and final one in Anaheim. Overall, the Stars lead the season series, three games to one.
Technically speaking, tonight's game is the back end of a home-and-home set for the Stars (but not for the Ducks). The two games have been separated by eight days.
In the final game before the All-Star break, the Stars squeaked past the Ducks, 1-0, at the American Airlines Center. Kari Lehtonen stopped all 27 shots fired his way, while Alex Goligoski scored the game's only goal on a first-period shot that deflected in off Ducks' defenseman Cam Fowler.
The Stars welcomed Mike Ribeiro back to the lineup in the final game before the break. Tonight, they will have their full complement of key players, when Jamie Benn returns to the lineup following his All-Star Game appearance.
Nevertheless, Dallas needs to battle through the all-too-common phenomenon of a team having neither its skating legs nor its timing in the opening period of its first game back after a long schedule break. Anaheim, meanwhile, is playing for the second time in as many nights.
Last night, the Ducks skated off with a 4-1 win in Phoenix. Andrew Cogliano tallied a natural hat trick in the second period, to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Teemu Selanne added a late empty net goal.
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In today's Dallas Morning News, Mike Heika wrote a very good
article looking at the Stars' organizational philosophy as the trade deadline approaches.
The gist of the piece is that the Stars are going to be cautious at the deadline, perhaps looking to add a minor piece or two if they are in playoff contention or perhaps being willing to add assets by dealing impending unrestricted free agents if they have a rough month. One thing the Stars won't do is roll the dice on any bold moves to acquire expensive rental players, even if it means a reduced chance of making the playoffs this year.
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