Wrapping up the pre-holiday break portion of their schedule as well as a five-game homestand, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (13-14-7) play host to Darryl Sutter's Los Angeles Kings (16-13-3) on Friday night. Game time at the American Airlines Center is 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
This is the second meeting of the season between the teams, and the second in Dallas. On Oct. 20 at the American Airlines Center, the Kings earned a 4-3 overtime win.
The Stars have gained three of four possible points in their last two games, but enter this game coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. Patrick Eaves (power play, 12th goal of the season) and Jason Spezza (sixth) scored in a losing cause for the Stars. David Perron scored the game-winner on a wraparound goal.
With Antoine Roussel's availability doubtful and Cody Eakins serving the third game of a four-game NHL suspension, the Stars are likely to dress seven defensemen against the Kings.
LA is playing the second half of back-to-back games. On Thursday, the Kings earned a 4-0 shutout road victory over the Nashville Predators. Peter Budaj made 28 saves to earn the win, while Nick Shore (second goal of the season), Nic Dowd (fourth), Jeff Carter (17th) and Devin Setoguchi (fourth) tallied goals for the Kings.