Facing a measuring-stick road game against a club that has become one of the top teams in the NHL, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (18-15-6) are in Music City on Thursday night to take on Peter Laviolette's Nashville Predators (26-9-4). Game time is 7:00 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the third of five games between the teams this season, and the second of three in Nashville. The Predators won each of the first two games, capturing a 4-1 win in Nashville on Oct. 11 and a 3-2 regulation win in Dallas on Nov. 6. The clubs will rematch on April 4 in Nashville and April 11 in Dallas.
The Stars have posted points in 9 of the last 11 games (8-2-1) but are winless in their last two games and have yielded nine goals over those two matches. Nashville has points in six straight games (4-0-2).
Dallas enters this game coming off a 4-2 home loss to Columbus on Tuesday night. The Stars dug themselves a 3-0 hole by early in the second period, getting back within a goal but unable to find an equalizer. Backup goaltender Anders Lindbà¤ck (16 saves on 20 shots) took the loss in net to fall to 1-6-0 on the season with a 4.26 goals against average and .856 save percentage.
Tyler Seguin did not record a point in the last game but remains second on the NHL's Art Ross Trophy race with 47 points -- one fewer than Philadelphia Flyers' right winger Jakub Voracek -- and tops the Rocket Richard Trophy race with 26 goals. Jamie Benn is second on the Stars with 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games.
After getting a night off on Tuesday, the Stars will have Kari Lehtonen back in goal on Thursday night. For the season, the big Finn has a 17-8-6 record, 2.87 goals against average and .908 save percentage.
The Stars expect to have Shawn Horcoff (illness) back in the lineup in Nashville. Patrick Eaves (ankle), Valeri Nichushkin (hip surgery) and Patrik Nemeth (severe forearm laceration from a skate cut) remain on injured reserve.
Nashville enters this game boasting an extraordinary 15-2-1 record on home ice thus far in the season. The team has posted points in nine of its last 10 games (7-1-2) overall.
The Pedators enter this game coming off a 3-2 home win over Carolina on Tuesday. Roman Josi scored the game winner with 4:43 remaining in regulation to cap off a three-goal third period for the Predators. Ryan Ellis and Mike Fisher also tallied for Nashville.
Pekka Rinne earned his 26th win of the season in the Carolina game, stopping 23 of 25 shots. For the season, Rinne is playing at a Vezina Trophy caliber pace with a 26-6-2 record, 2.00 goals against average, .929 save percentage and three shutouts.
Filip Forsberg, who appears well on his way to winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, has already set a franchise rookie scoring record with half the season still to go. For the season, Forsberg has posted 14 goals and 38 points.
Former Stars center Mike Ribeiro leads the Predators with 26 assists among his 35 points. Fellow former Dallas players James Neal (13 goals, 23 points) and Eric Nystrom (five goals, nine points, plus-five) were both placed on injured reserve on Thursday.