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Stars Gameday: 4/27/13 vs. Red Wings

April 27, 2013, 1:32 PM ET [1 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Dallas Stars Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
PREVIEW 11:45 AM CDT

For the third straight season, the Dallas Stars (22-21-4) have been knocked out of the Western Conference Playoff chase on either their next-to-last or final game of the regular season. This year, at least, the Stars can take solace in the fact that it happened during a transitional season that saw the infusion of several promising young players into the lineup, either through the farm system or via trade with other organizations for unrestricted free agents.

All that's left for Dallas to do in tonight's season finale is to try to play the role of spoilers as they host a Detroit Red Wings (23-16-8) team that is trying to nail down a playoff spot in its final game of the season. Currently seeded seventh, the Red Wings have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs every year since Jacques Demers' 1989-90 team failed to qualify for the postseason.

This is the third and final meeting between the teams this season, and the lone game played in Dallas. Detroit won the first two games on home ice by 2-1 and 4-1 scores. However, the clubs haven't faced one another since second week of the season.

The Stars, who controlled their own playoff destiny less than a week ago, fell out of the postseason by losing four games in a row (0-3-1) while the race was still up for grabs. On Thursday, the Stars and Blue Jackets were still tied 1-1 when Detroit's win over Nashville became a final and officially knocked Dallas (but not Columbus) out of the playoffs. Columbus went on to win, 3-1, and stay alive in the playoff hunt into their own meeting with the Predators.

Detroit has won three in a row heading into the final game and has gained points in eight of the last 10 (5-2-3). Even the one-point efforts have proven to be valuable in setting the Red Wings up to be in good shape to make the playoffs heading into tonight. If Detroit beats the Stars tonight -- or even if they lose in overtime or a shootout -- they will clinch a playoff spot regardless of what Minnesota and Columbus do. However, the Wings could finish eighth (and play Chicago in the first round) instead of seventh (setting up a series against Anaheim) if Detroit loses via overtime or shootout and Minnesota wins in Colorado.

The only way the Red Wings can entirely miss the playoffs at this point is if Dallas wins in regulation today, Minnesota earns at least one point and Columbus wins. The Stars will try to do their part in the equation tonight, and at least finish the year with an above .500 record on the season.

Backup netminder Richard Bachman will start in goal for Dallas tonight. Number one goalie Kari Lehtonen, who will finish the year with a respectable 2.66 goals against average and .916 save percentage that would have been better if he did not have a below average team defense in front of him, played well late in the season after returning from his second groin pull of the season. Unfortunately, he didn't enough goal support or defensive help to be the final difference-maker for the underdog Stars down the stretch.

Defenseman Trevor Daley has been battling an upper-body injury for weeks. He has often had to take maintenance days and been listed as questionable on game days but suited up in the games. Tonight, with the Stars eliminated from the playoffs, he will sit out. It has been revealed that the injury is to his neck and corrective off-season surgery may be required to correct the issue.

Rookie forward Alex Chiasson, who scored six goals in his first seven games, has missed five straight games after sustaining a shoulder injury. He will also sit out the finale tonight. While he could not possibly have sustained his torrid goal-scoring pace, the Stars definitely missed his offensive instincts and good hands during their late-season swoon.

Two other Stars players who have been battling injuries are expected to play tonight: Alex Goligoski (hairline foot fracture) and Aaron Rome (hip). Jordie Benn will sub for Daley in the lineup tonight, and is likely to be placed on the third pairing with Philip Larsen.

For Detroit, Todd Bertuzzi (back) and Mikael Samuelsson (pectoral muscle) are listed as questionable. Fellow forwards Darren Helm (back) and Drew Miller (hand) are out.


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