The Dallas Stars are 11-1-1 in the last thirteen games at home and face a struggling Phoenix Coyotes team tonight at American Airlines Center. Marty Turco will set a franchise record tonight when he takes the ice for his 24th straight game.
Mark Stepneski has a great breakdown of how big an impact Steve Ott is having on the team since he started this career-best streak.
* Despite missing 16 games due to injury this season (five with groin issue and a 11 with a broken hand), Ott has already matched his career high in goals (11) and set a new career high in points (24). He's played in only 36 games so far this season.
* Ott is currently riding a career-high points streak of eight games and has registered 12 points (six goals, six assists) during the run.
* Ott, who didn't have a power play goal in his first five seasons in the NHL, has scored four power play goals this season.
Even better, he has a look at the Ott-Lehtinen-Ribeiro line the past 12 games.
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Mike Ribeiro | 12 | 6 | 10 | 16 | +5 |
| Steve Ott | 12 | 8 | 7 | 15 | +6 |
| Jere Lehtinen | 12 | 5 | 10 | 15 | +7 |
| Totals | - | 19 | 27 | 46 | +18 |
The Stars are currently seven points behind fourth-place Chicago who face Atlanta tonight and look to continue their strong play tonight. The Coyotes are reeling right now, just 3-7-0 in their last ten games and have lost six straight. But their not just losing, they're getting blasted.
Phoenix has given up 12 goals in the past two games, but it hasn't been much better offensively during its slide. The Coyotes have scored 10 goals in their last six contests and were shut out twice in a row.
Phoenix hasn't dropped seven straight since an 0-5-2 stretch from March 13-26, 2000. The Coyotes haven't suffered seven consecutive regulation losses since a 10-game skid from Feb. 6-25, 1994, when they were the Winnipeg Jets.
"That was about as ugly and embarrassed as I've been," forward Shane Doan said after the loss to the Hurricanes. "Tonight we were just embarrassing. In this locker room, a lot of guys have to look at themselves, myself included."
Quick note: Fabian Brunnstrom participated in the full practice yesterday and looked fine.
Key Injuries:
Dallas: LW Fabian Brunnstrom (flu) is available. RW Landon Wilson (ribs) is doubtful. Phoenix: RW Peter Mueller (concussion) is doubtful. C Martin Hanzal (shoulder) and D Kurt Sauer (lower body) are out.
Stats comparison, per NHL.com:
 |
2008-2009 Team Stats |  |
| 53 | Points: | 59 |
| 24 | Wins: | 26 |
| 2 | Shutouts: | 2 |
| 29 | Power Play Rank: | 19 |
| 23 | Penalty Kill Rank: | 26 |
| .818 | Win % When Leading After 1: | .875 |
| .941 | Win % When Leading After 2: | .870 |
| .176 | Win % When Trailing After 1: | .320 |
| .071 | Win % When Trailing After 2: | .059 |
Join us here as always for the live game thread tonight at 7:00 PM CST to discuss the game.
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