Senators at Stars
THE STORY: Andrew Raycroft earned his first victory in nearly a year earlier this week. The journeyman netminder hopes he doesn't have to wait as long for his next win as he leads the Dallas Stars into a showdown with the visiting Ottawa Senators on Thursday night. Starting in place of the injured Kari Lehtonen (groin), Raycroft turned aside 35 shots to lead the Stars to a 3-1 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. "It would have been nice to get one earlier,” he said afterward. "That’s the way it goes, but I played well enough to get one." He'll face a Senators team that has scored 10 goals in consecutive victories over the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets. Thursday marks the eighth road outing in a nine-game stretch for the Senators, who will wrap up their gruelling trek Saturday in Washington before returning home for a pair.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet Ottawa, TVA, Fox Sports Southwest
ABOUT THE SENATORS (12-10-2): Ottawa has wanted more out of Jason Spezza, and the veteran center has delivered. After going 11 consecutive games without a goal, Spezza has struck three times in the last two games and has six points (three goals, three assists) in his last five contests overall. Spezza hasn't seen much of the Stars in his career, but he has fared well agains them, scoring four goals in six games.
ABOUT THE STARS (14-9-1): The Stars have dealt with injury issues all season, but the loss of Lehtonen for up to three weeks could be the biggest hurdle yet. Defenseman Stephane Robidas says the team will be fine as long as it sticks to the system that has made it successful so far. "You keep doing the little things," he said. "Everybody has to step up their game. It's an opportunity for some guys to show what they can do."
OVERTIME:
1. The teams last met just over a year ago, with the Stars shading the Senators 2-1 in Ottawa. This is the Senators' visit to the Lone Star State since March 20, 2010.
2. Richard Bachman has been called up to serve as Raycroft's backup. The 24-year-old has one NHL game under his belt, stopping four shots in 10 minutes of action last season.