Blackhawks at Stars
The Dallas Stars have made a stunning turnaround since their dismal 1-7-1 start to the season, following that with a 12-1-1 tear that has them within five points of first-place St. Louis in the Central Division. Dallas is riding a 10-game point streak and vies for its sixth straight win against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.
The Stars, who haven't lost in regulation since Oct. 26, blew a three-goal lead in the third period before recovering for a 5-3 victory over Winnipeg for its fifth straight home win. "You are going to have to win a lot of different types of games to have success in the regular season, but to also help prepare you for the playoffs, which hopefully we will be a part of," coach Jim Montgomery said. The Blackhawks had been on a roll of their own, winning four straight games and earning points in six in a row before dropping consecutive 4-2 decisions at home to Carolina and Tampa Bay. "I don't think we've lost the momentum," captain Jonathan Toews said following Thursday's setback. "I think we know what we can do, we just got to get our legs going and get four lines rolling again."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (9-9-4): Patrick Kane managed only one assist in the last five games of October, but he has hit the scoresheet in every contest this month and takes an 11-game point streak (eight goals, 12 assists) into Saturday's matchup. Kane, who has a team-leading 29 points in 22 games, collected four goals and a pair of assists in four meetings against the Stars last season. Kane's assist on Thursday was the 600th of his career and his 967th point, moving him past Maurice Richard for 95th on the all-time list.
ABOUT THE STARS (13-8-2): Dallas could be getting some high-end reinforcements back with the potential returns of leading goal scorer Roope Hintz and defenseman John Klingberg, who have been out for seven and six games, respectively. Montgomery said a decision will be made Saturday but Hintz labeled himself "100 percent" and Klingberg said he felt good to go. "I know what my game is and I think the coaches know what my game is too, so I'm going to go in and play my game and keep helping this team win," Klingberg said.
OVERTIME
1. Stars captain Jamie Benn has points in four straight and four goals during a three-game streak.
2. Blackhawks C Dylan Strome has 10 points in his last eight games.
3. Stars C Radek Faksa has nine points during an eight-game streak.