Blue Jackets at Stars
THE STORY: The Dallas Stars were picked to finish close to the bottom of the Western Conference by nearly everyone with a keyboard before the start of the season. Four games into the 2011-12 campaign, the Stars are proving people wrong. If only the people were around to see it. Dallas has been playing to record-low crowds in its first few home games and will be fighting for attention on Saturday against the baseball Rangers in the playoffs and the always-popular college football going on all day in Texas. Small crowds are nothing new for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost in front of the smallest crowd ever at Nationwide Arena (8,986) on Wednesday. The Blue Jackets had high expectations thanks to the arrivals of Jeff Carter and Vinny Prospal but have yet to notch a win. Columbus will be looking to solve Kari Lehtonen when it visits the Stars on Saturday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSOH (Columbus), KTXA (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (0-3-1): Columbus’ big problem has been on the power play, where it has been shutout in 20 chances through the first four games. Carter, who recorded 17 of his 66 points with the man-advantage in Philadelphia last season, has yet to score a goal for his new team. The Blue Jackets secured their first point against Colorado on Wednesday, dropping a 3-2 shootout decision to Colorado.
ABOUT THE STARS (3-1-0): Dallas lost All-Star center Brad Richards in free agency over the summer, immediately lowering expectations. So far, Loui Eriksson and a revived Sheldon Souray have stepped up to shoulder some of the scoring load while Lehtonen has covered over some of the problems on the blue line. Lehtonen has posted a 1.30 goals against average in three starts - all wins.
OVERTIME:
1. The Stars have not started 4-0 at home in 13 years.
2. Blue Jackets goalie Steve Mason has been sharp against the Stars, going 3-1-1 with a 2.10 GAA in six career starts.
3. Lehtonen is 2-2-1 with a 1.39 GAA against Columbus.
PREDICTION: Columbus 3, Dallas 2. Lehtonen can’t stand on his head forever, and Carter will help take advantage of the Stars’ suspect blue line.