Stars at Islanders
THE STORY: Richard Bachman made the most of his second career start. The 24-year-old stopped all 34 shots he faced to record his first career NHL shutout during a 1-0 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday. After a sizzling performance, Bachman was guaranteed another start - but nothing more. "We'll go back with 'Bacher' here (on Thursday versus the New York Islanders) and then evaluate where we go from there," Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said. "Right now, we're in a position with two good goalies that we have to allow performance to play. But we'll go from there." With Kari Lehtonen sidelined until Christmas with a groin injury, Bachman and Andrew Raycroft are expected to hold the fort. With a pair of victories, Dallas improved to 2-1-0 on its five-game road trip and will look to up the ante against the Islanders on Thursday. New York has dropped three in a row (0-2-1), but does own a 5-4 victory over the Stars on Dec. 3.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSSW, MSG+
ABOUT THE STARS (17-11-1): Defenseman Trevor Daley netted the team's lone goal with five minutes remaining in Tuesday's contest. Loui Eriksson has certainly hit a dry spell. After collecting 10 goals prior to Thanksgiving, Eriksson has scored just once in his last 11 games. In addition, D Sheldon Souray has been held off the scoresheet in the last 15 contests. Fellow D Mark Fistric is eligible to return from his three-game suspension on Thursday.
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (9-13-6): Matt Moulson collected a career-high four goals against the Stars two weeks ago. He has nine tallies in his last eight games. Al Montoya had yielded 13 goals during a seven-game stretch before permitting 10 tallies in his last two outings. Defenseman Steve Staios has been ruled out of Thursday's contest after he felt symptoms surface for a possible concussion. NHL protocol dictates that he must sit out the game.
OVERTIME:
1. The Stars have made themselves at home in Long Island, posting an 8-2-1 mark in their last 11 trips.
2. C Corey Trivino, who was the Islanders' second round pick in 2008, was kicked off the Boston University hockey team after he was arrested on charges of indecent assault and battery on a female student. Trivino led the Terriers with 13 goals this season.