Still within three points of the top spot in the Western Conference and Central Division, Lindy Ruff's struggling Dallas Stars (38-20-7) hope to get back on the winning track when they host John Hynes' New Jersey Devils (31-27-7) 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.
This is the second and final meeting of the season between the two clubs. The Stars dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Devils in Newark on Jan. 2.
The Stars played at an elite level up to New Years and had a hot streak immediately after the All-Star break. However, the team has looked flawed overall -- much like the one-dimensional squad that could not score its way into the playoffs last season -- since the calendar flipped to 2016. In that span, the Stars are 10-11-4 (3-6-2 in January, 7-5-2 in February, 0-1-0 to date in March).
Entering this game, Dallas is winless in its last four games (0-3-1) and has lost seven of its past eight games (1-5-2). In the meantime, the St. Louis Blues, once a blip in the rearview mirror have now drawn even in points (83) with the Stars with a 7-3-0 run over their last 10 games.
Going back to the start of January, the Stars have yield four or more non-shootout goals in nine of 25 games. They've given up three or more goals 19 times, five or more goals seven times, six goals twice and seven goals once. Most recently, the Stars have allowed five or more goals four times in the last seven games. They've yielded at least three in seven straight games.
Amid Ruff's carousel of line juggling, the first line right wing spot on Friday night has landed on recently recalled power forward Brett Ritchie. Two of the three defense pairs will also change. Per Stars Inside Edge, Kris Russell skated with John Klingberg at Friday's morning skate while Alex Goligoski was with Patrik Nemeth. The pairing of Johnny Oduya and Jason Demers holds intact.
Kari Lehtonen will get the start against Cory Schneider on Friday night. The Devils enter the game coming off a 5-4 overtime road win in Nashville. The victory was spurred by a game-tying goal by Adam Henrique in the final minute of regulation and a power play goal by the same player in OT.
On the injury front, forwards Patrick Sharp (lower body) and Patrick Eaves (suspected pneumonia) and defenseman Jordie Benn (lower body) are out.