STARS VS. JETS PREVIEW
Locked in a tight battle for the final wildcard playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars (32-23-11) head to the Great White North to take on the Winnipeg Jets (30-29-9) on Sunday night. Game time is 7:00 p.m. Central. The match will be televised locally on TXA 21.
This is the fourth of five meetings between the Central Division clubs this season, and the third and final game in Winnipeg. The Stars are 2-0-1 against the Jets thus far in 2013-14, but have not played the team since before the Christmas mini-break.
Dallas breezed to a 4-0 road win on Oct. 11. The Stars dropping a 2-1 decision via shootout at the American Airlines Center on Oct. 26. On Dec. 14, the Stars claimed a 6-3 road win. Tyler Seguin notched the winning goal in both Dallas wins.
Dallas enters this game with an 11-3-3 mark over their last 17 games. However, the Stars are coming off a disappointing 4-3 home shootout loss to Calgary on Friday. Dallas held a 3-1 lead in the final eight minutes of regulation but were unable to nail down the win. When the match moved to a shootout, Dallas was one save away from coming away with a second point from the game but each of the final two Flames shooters converted their chances against Tim Thomas.
Dallas starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen (concussion) went through a full practice on Saturday. Officially, he remains on a day-to-day-basis. Shawn Horcoff (upper body) is not yet ready to return to the lineup. Cody Eakin (bruised foot) practiced on Saturday and is likely to suit up against the Jets. Rich Peverley (heart condition) is done for the season.
The Jets have scuffled of late. The club has won just two of its last 10 games (2-4-4) and are winless the last six games (0-3-3). On Friday, the Jets went down, 4-2, to the New York Rangers.
Backup goalie Al Montoya will get the starting nod in net for the Jets against the Stars. Erratic starter Ondrej Pavelec is out with a lower-body injury sustained in the first period of the loss to the Rangers.