Needing a win to end a three-game California road trip on a positive note and start pushing again for first place in the Central Division, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (29-12-5) are in Los Angeles on Tuesday night to take on Darryl Sutter's Los Angeles Kings (28-13-3). Game time at the Staples Center is 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the first of three meetings between the teams this season. Last season, Dallas won two of three. Overall, the Stars have enjoyed good recent success against LA, capturing points from seven of the last eight meetings (6-1-1).
The Stars enter this game coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose on Saturday. The club is off to a 1-4-2 start thus far in January and has fallen out of first place in the Central while the Chicago Blackhawks have been on a tear. Overall, the Stars are winless (0-4-3) in their last seven road games.
In the meantime, the Kings have built a 10-point lead in the Pacific Division and are on 8-2-1 run over the last 11 games. LA enters this game coming off a 3-2 road win over divisional rival Anaheim on Sunday. The team made leaguewide headlines by signing center Anze Kopitar to an eight-year, $80 million contract extension. Recently acquired Vincent Lecavalier (goals in back-to-back games) and Luke Schenn have stepped into supporting cast roles on an already deep roster.
On the injury front, the Stars are without defenseman Jordie Benn (IR, lower-body) injury and recalled young defenseman Esa Lindell to fill the vacant spot on the active roster. The Kings are without Kyle Clifford (IR, lower body) and Matt Greene (IR, shoulder).