The Dallas Stars will look to avenge their opportunity lost when they meet up with the Calgary Flames tonight. Back on December 1st, the Stars gave up a three-goal lead in the third period to loose in a shootout. It was the Stars’ first loss in games that went beyond regulation.
Granted, the Stars had basically done the same thing to the Minnesota Wild just days before, so there was some cosmic karma evening that happened that night. However, the Stars did not do themselves any favors when they gambled away the lead in the last period.
It started a sort of trend, where the Stars have blown leads in the third period in recent games. Even after beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1, head coach Lindy Ruff was unimpressed with the play of the team:
Mark Stepneski reported lines from morning skate on Twitter this morning:
Benn-Eakin-Seguin
Nichushkin-Spezza-Sharp
Roussel-Jamark-Hemsky
Sceviour-Fiddler-Eaves
Goligoski-Klingberg
Oduya-Demers
Nemeth-Benn
Jokipakka-Oleksiak
That’s an interesting top line. Cody Eakin has had some success playing between Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, but this could be Ruff’s way of trying to spark Eakin’s offensive game. That’s the theory I’m going with, anyway. Mattias Janmark goes back to his natural center position, where he’s been playing wing for a stretch here.
Kari Lehtonen is expected to start in goal tonight.
Calgary continues to be a not good hockey team. They’re allowing the most goals per game in the league, at 3.43 goals against.
That being said, they’re on a six game win streak. Wins that have seen them beat Boston, San Jose, Buffalo, New York Rangers, and Nashville, not exactly a cupcake schedule. That streak began with their win over Dallas, so Dallas could not only acquit themselves after their terrible game on December 1 but also be a streak buster.
Their lineup, or something like it:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Jones
Bennett-Granlund-Hudler
Raymond-Backman-Jooris
Ferland-Stajan-Colborne
Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Wideman-Engelland