Friday, November 27
7:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Southwest
Radio: The Ticket 1310 AM/96.7 FM
The Stars (17-5-0) had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 7-4 loss to Ottawa at American Airlines Center Tuesday. The Stars outshot the Senators 37-20, but Dallas miscues gave Ottawa some prime scoring opportunities.
“We didn’t get outplayed. We didn’t get outskated. But we definitely got outsmarted,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “Our puck decisions were at a low for the year and our puck management wasn’t good. We looked a little bit like last year’s team with the same as last year’s results. We probably gave up as many rush chances in that game from breakaways and odd-numbered rushes and giveaways as we had in the last four or five games.”
Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen suffered an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s game when he collided with teammate John Klingberg. Lehtonen, who was placed on injured reserved Thursday, is expected to miss 5-7 days, according to Dallas GM Jim Nill.
Defenseman Jason Demers, who missed Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury, is expected to return for Friday’s game.
The Stars recalled G Jack Campbell and D Patrik Nemeth from Texas (AHL) on Thursday. Nemeth was in the AHL on a conditioning assignment.
Friday’s game wraps up a three-game homestand for the Stars.
Injuries: G Kari Lehtonen (upper body) is out.
The Canucks (9-8-6) won 3-2 in Minnesota Wednesday. Radim Vrbata scored two goals, and Ryan Miller stopped 31 shots for Vancouver, which snapped a four-game winless streak on the road and won for just the second time in its past eight games away from home.
“This is a tough building,” Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said. “Just to get a win here is a good thing for our team and should give us a little bit of confidence moving forward.”
The Canucks are 3-6-2 in their past 11 games overall.
The Canucks practiced Thursday morning and then attended the Cowboys-Panthers football game in Arlington Thursday afternoon.
“It might be good for us to get out and forget about hockey for a little bit and then be ready for the game in Dallas,” Desjardins said.
Friday’s game is the second of a four-game road trip for the Canucks.
Injuries: F Brandon Sutter (abdominal) and D Ben Hutton (lower body) are on injured reserve.
*This is the second of three meetings between the Stars and Canucks.
*The Stars won the first meeting, defeating the Canucks 4-3 (OT) in Dallas on Oct. 29.
*The Stars have won eight straight games against Vancouver, including the past five in Dallas.
*The Stars are 8-3-0 at home.
*The Canucks are 6-4-3 on the road.
*The Stars are 4-0-0 vs. the Pacific Division.
*The Canucks are 2-2-1 vs. the Central Division.
*The Stars rank second in goal scoring in the NHL at 3.54 per game.
*The Canucks rank eighth in goal scoring at 2.87 per game.
*The Stars rank second on the power play at 26.9 percent.
*The Canucks rank seventh on the power play at 21.0 percent.
*Stars captain Jamie Benn is on a six-game points streak (6 goals, 5 assists).
*Benn leads the NHL in goals (16) and ranks second in points (32).
*Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin is on a six-game points streak (5 goals, 5 assists).
*Sedin ranks fourth in the NHL in scoring with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).
