The Dallas Stars likely can’t afford any more setbacks if they’re to remain in the hunt for the top spot in Western Conference.
Looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season, the host Stars can get back on track Tuesday night by sweeping the season series from the struggling Vancouver Canucks.
Dallas (50-22-5, 105 points) is within arms’ length of West-leading Winnipeg (108 points) with five games remaining in the regular season. However, the Stars have followed their seven-game winning streak with a 5-3 home loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday and Sunday’s 3-2 overtime defeat at Minnesota.
The Stars, who will host the Jets on Thursday, couldn’t hold a 1-0 third-period lead against the Wild. Dallas forced overtime with Thomas Harley’s goal, only to fall in the extra session. In addition to giving the Wild four power-play chances, Dallas went 0-for-4 with the man-advantage, and is 1-for-13 in that area over the last four contests.
“We’ve got some things to clean up before the playoffs start,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said.
Dallas hasn’t lost back-to-back home games since an 0-2-1 slide in December.
“We’re still not at the level we’re capable of, so we’ve got to find it here,” said Stars forward Matt Duchene, who has two goals with six assists during a six-game point streak.
Dallas has played at a relatively high level during its four-game winning streak over Vancouver. Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz have combined for five goals, and Duchene has recorded three assists as the Stars won both previous meetings with the Canucks this season.
Sitting eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the West with five games left, Vancouver (35-29-13, 83 points) doesn’t appear headed to a second straight playoff appearance. Still without injured key contributors Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil, the Canucks are mired in a 1-3-1 rut and pining for something positive down the stretch.
“How you handle adversity builds confidence,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “You can’t just turn on confidence. You build that.”
Nils Hoglander and Aatu Raty each scored, but Vancouver allowed the tiebreaking goal late in regulation of Sunday’s 3-2 home loss to Vegas.
“We’re just going to keep building and believing,” said Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen, who made 32 saves but lost his fourth consecutive start Sunday.
Vancouver has been held to two or fewer goals in three of the last four games, but Hoglander has recorded nine of his 22 points this season over his last 11. He has a pair of assists versus Dallas this season.
Meanwhile, teammate Thatcher Demko is 7-1-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage all-time versus Dallas.
The Stars’ Jake Oettinger has 24 wins and a 2.08 goals-against average this season at home, where he’s won nine consecutive starts. That run includes a 26-save effort during Dallas’ 5-3 win over Vancouver on Jan. 31.
Backup Casey DeSmith (2.38 goals-against average this season) made 22 saves during a 4-1 victory at Vancouver on March 9.
Harley has recorded two goals with two assists in the last four games against the Canucks.
–Field Level Media
