Stars at Blackhawks
THE STORY: The Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks do battle Saturday night for the second time in as many days. The Stars got the jump on the Blackhawks in Dallas, holding on for a 2-1 win on goals by Alex Goligoski and Jamie Benn. The Blackhawks will look to return the favor in their home rink, where they were a pedestrian 24-17-0 last season. The New York Rangers were the only other playoff team to lose that many home games in regulation. The Stars got their season off to a successful start on the sensational goaltending of Kari Lehtonen, who made 37 saves - 22 in the second period alone - as the Stars beat Chicago for the fourth time in their last five meetings. It provided a small measure of revenge for Dallas, which lost to Minnesota on the final day of the 2010-11 regular season to hand Chicago the final playoff berth.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, KTXA, CSCH
ABOUT THE STARS (1-0-0): Benn has been called upon to replace some of the offense lost with the offseason departure of superstar center Brad Richards. Benn thrived at the end of last season, averaging a point per game over his final 23 contests. He looked outstanding in Friday's series opener, scoring the eventual game winner while winning 6 of 11 faceoffs and finishing with three shots. The 22-year-old will get every opportunity to become an elite producer for the Stars.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (0-1-0): Chicago's Big Four - Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp - combined to pelt Lehtonen with 21 shots but couldn't solve the veteran netminder. Of greater concern was how easily Dallas manhandled the Blackhawks, outhitting them 37-19 on the night. Chicago's power play was 0-for-4, and lacked fluidity. It will need to be much better Saturday night if Chicago hopes to avoid getting swept by the Stars.
OVERTIME:
1. Bryan Bickell was the only Chicago player with four hits in Friday's loss. Dallas had four - Marc Fistric (eight), Steve Ott (seven), Philip Larsen (four) and Brenden Morrow (four).
2. Sheldon Souray's second-period assist for the Stars marked his first point in the NHL since Jan. 20, 2010. Souray spent all of last season in the American Hockey League.