Kings at Stars
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings' climb to the top of the Pacific Division is complete. A win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday moved the Kings into a tie with the San Jose Sharks for the division lead, and they have to like their chances of staying there as they face the struggling Stars in Dallas on Wednesday night. Los Angeles has won five of its last seven games, allowing it to vault the Stars and Phoenix Coyotes in the crowded Pacific. Dallas is coming off a hard-fought 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday - a triumph that halted a five-game losing skid during which the Stars managed just four goals. Los Angeles has already gained the upper hand in the season series, earning a 1-0 home victory on Oct. 22 before skating to a 5-3 victory in Dallas five days later.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Southwest
ABOUT THE KINGS (11-7-3): Things are going so well for Los Angeles that even stay-at-home defensemen like Willie Mitchell are scoring big goals. Mitchell's goal - just the 25th in 664 career games - turned out to be the game winner in Tuesday's victory over the Blues. Mitchell has scored just six times in 78 career games with Los Angeles, but two of those goals have been game winners. He has three goals in 31 career games against the Stars.
ABOUT THE STARS (12-8-0): With new owner Tom Gaglardi now in place, the attention in Dallas turns to securing key members of the club. At the top of the list is forward Jamie Benn, who shares the team leading in scoring with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 20 games. Negotiations have begun on a long-term contract for the talented 22-year-old, a fifth-round pick of the Stars in 2007. Contract talks have also kicked off with defenseman Alex Goligoski.
OVERTIME:
1. The Kings have won four straight games in the series, allowing just six goals in that span.
2. Kings F Mike Richards had a second-period goal against St. Louis and has now scored seven times in nine November games. His assist Tuesday was his first of the month.
3. Mike Ribeiro has just two goals in 20 games so far this season, though he did hit the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to San Jose on Saturday night.