Stars at Sharks
The San Jose Sharks were on the fast track toward the postseason with eight straight wins before stumbling in their last three outings to conclude a four-game road trip. The Sharks needed help Monday to clinch their 13th playoff berth in 14 years and look to regain their footing versus the Dallas Stars in the opener of a season-ending three-game homestand on Tuesday.
Captain Joe Pavelski (team co-leading 63 points) collected a goal and an assist in San Jose's 3-2 setback on Saturday, a result that allowed expansion Vegas to add another chapter in its storybook season. The 33-year-old Pavelski traditionally has tormented Dallas to the tune of 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 55 career encounters, with a goal and two assists coming in the Sharks' 5-2 win over the Stars on Feb. 18. While San Jose is fending off fellow California contingents Anaheim and Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific, an eight-game winless skid last month all but effectively ended Dallas' bid for the postseason. The Stars' road woes did them no favors as well, as the club has dropped eight straight to plummet to 14-19-5 away from American Airlines Center.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, FS Southwest Plus (Dallas), NBCS California Plus (San Jose)
ABOUT THE STARS (40-31-8): John Klingberg scored and set up a goal in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Minnesota, with the assist giving him a league-best 56 among defensemen while his 64 points trail only Washington's John Carlson in that department. The 25-year-old Swede has powered Dallas' 19th-ranked power play with 23 points (one goal, 22 assists), with one assist coming with the man advantage in a 6-0 rout of San Jose on New Year's Eve. Tyler Pitlick scored twice in that contest and also tallied in a 5-2 setback on Feb. 18, but has just three goals since then.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (44-25-10): Logan Couture leads San Jose with 32 goals but owns just one in his last five outings overall and has failed to dent the scoresheet in two encounters with Dallas this season. Former Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, who has also failed to contribute to the offense versus the Stars, has nine of his club-best 52 assists and 10 of his team high-tying point total in his last 10 games. Martin Jones has yielded seven goals over back-to-back losses after permitting 17 during his seven-game winning streak.
OVERTIME
1. Dallas C Tyler Seguin (team-leading 40 goals, 76 points) scored a goal and set up four others during his three-game point streak.
2. San Jose is second in the league on the penalty kill entering Tuesday after thwarting 21 of its last 22 opportunities over the last seven contests.
3. Stars captain Jamie Benn is one tally shy of his fourth 30-goal season in the past five years.