Wild at Stars
The Dallas Stars hope to find their offense again when they come home for the first of three games, starting with a visit from the Central Division-rival Minnesota Wild on Friday night. The Stars scored 17 times while winning three of four during a season-opening, four-game homestand before managing one goal total while dropping their last two contests in Ottawa and New Jersey.
“I see a big difference between how the majority of our players play at home and on the road,” first-year Dallas coach Jim Montgomery told reporters. “That’s something that we have to address. That’s between the ears.” The Stars will try to capitalize on home ice first - where they went 26-12-3 last season - and sustain more possession in the offensive end against a Minnesota team that has gained points in four of the last five games. The Wild have lost their only two road games to Colorado and Nashville, but rallied for a 2-1 victory over Arizona on Tuesday at home as Eric Staal scored the only goal of the third period. “I think we’re getting closer to our style and closer to our game,” Staal told reporters. “I think our execution can still get better, but it’s getting better. We’re spending more time in the offensive zone. I think we’re making the plays that we need to.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
ABOUT THE WILD (2-2-2): Left wing Zach Parise, who missed 40 games because of injury last season, is healthy and producing in the early going with a goal and six assists for a team-high seven points along with a plus-4 rating. Forward Jason Zucker, who boasts a team-high 22 shots, leads Minnesota with three goals and defenseman Ryan Suter has contributed five points. Captain Mikko Koivu missed Tuesday’s game to be with his wife, who was in labor, and could return this weekend while Matt Read got recalled after fellow forward Matt Hendricks suffered a lower-body injury against Arizona which is expected to keep him out 2-to-3 weeks.
ABOUT THE STARS (3-3-0): Dallas’ high-scoring forwards put up big numbers on the season-opening homestand as Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov and captain Jamie Benn totaled 27 points, but the trio had only one on the trip. Seguin, who had three goals and five assists in four games against Minnesota last season, and Radulov each have 10 points in 2018-19 while defenseman John Klingberg boasts four goals - three in the last four contests. Forward Valeri Nichushkin (one point) is expected to miss Friday’s game with general soreness, but defenseman Marc Methot practiced Thursday after sitting out Tuesday’s contest.
OVERTIME
1. The teams split four games last season, but the Wild have earned at least a point in seven of the last nine meetings (6-2-1).
2. The Stars have converted seven of their 18 opportunities on the power play, including three goals from Benn.
3. Minnesota F Joel Eriksson Ek (lower-body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.