Stars at Coyotes
The Dallas Stars bid to rediscover their offense on Thursday as they attempt to compete a three-game season sweep of the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. The Stars erupted for 13 goals in their previous two games before being limited to Tyler Seguin's team-leading 23rd goal in a 4-1 loss at Toronto last week and a 3-0 setback versus Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Dallas' top line of Seguin, captain Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov came under fire against the Kings, with Seguin telling reporters that he thought they "were the worst group of guys out there." The trio performed significantly better in two meetings with Arizona, with Radulov scoring in the Stars' 3-1 win on Oct. 17 while Seguin tallied twice and Benn notched a three-point performance in a 5-4 victory over the Coyotes on Oct. 19. Arizona saw its season-high five-game point streak come to a halt with a 2-1 setback versus Columbus last Thursday. Brendan Perlini scored in that contest to extend his goal streak to four games and pull into a tie with Clayton Keller atop the team lead in tallies (14).
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE STARS (28-19-4): While Ben Bishop has won both starts versus Arizona this season, the towering netminder has struggled on the road with a 5-7-2 mark, 3.09 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. Kari Lehtonen has flourished away from Dallas and could draw the start after posting a 4-1-0 mark with a 1.97 GAA and .930 save percentage in his last five road outings. The 34-year-old Finn has won 10 of his last 12 starts versus the Coyotes to improve his career mark to 14-4-4 with a 2.05 GAA and .933 save percentage in 23 encounters.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (12-29-9): Perlini's progress can be measured by what is now heard as well as what is seen, according to coach Rick Tocchet. "He's a quiet guy. He didn't talk much in October and now you can tell he's getting more comfortable talking," Tocchet said. "... I think that's something that 'Perls' is starting to get out of his comfort level of being just a quiet guy. Now he realizes I've got to be a little more vocal guy if I'm going to be a complete player, and you can tell he's coming out of his shell." Derek Stepan set up Perlini against Columbus to increase his point total to 10 (three goals, seven assists) in his last 13 games.
OVERTIME
1. Dallas C Radek Faksa scored two goals and set up another in the previous two games against Arizona, but has just two goals and four assists in his last 21 contests overall.
2. Stepan had two goals and an assist against the Stars on Oct. 19 to give him 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 12 career encounters.
3. Dallas thwarted all six short-handed situations against Arizona earlier this season, but has permitted a power-play goal in each of its last four games.