Oilers at Stars
THE STORY: The Edmonton Oilers have finally reached the end of a grueling seven-game road trip - and the finale is sure to be a challenging one as they visit the Dallas Stars in a Saturday matinee. The Oilers have fallen flat during the trek, winning just one of the first six games while losing rookie sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for the next four weeks with a shoulder injury. Games in Dallas have been especially daunting, with the Stars owning a 9-0-1 mark against the Oilers in Dallas dating back to the 2006-07 campaign. Edmonton is coming off a pair of 4-3 losses in Buffalo and St. Louis, leaving the club firmly entrenched in 13th place in the Western Conference while dropping it to 6-15-1 away from Edmonton. The Stars find themselves just outside the playoff picture in the West, but are coming off an impressive 4-1 victory over the Predators in Nashville. Dallas earned a 4-1 home victory in the previous meeting between the clubs back in November.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet West, Fox Sports Southwest
ABOUT THE OILERS (16-21-3): Edmonton appeared to be on the way to securing a vital two points before collapsing against the Blues, surrendering three unanswered third-period goals. Two of those markers came on St. Louis power plays after Corey Potter was assessed a delay of game penalty and Taylor Hall earned a roughing minor. Edmonton came into the game with a top-10 penalty-killing unit, and had killed off the last 11 disadvantages prior to the two quick goals.
ABOUT THE STARS (22-16-1): Reviews on goaltender Kari Lehtonen have been mixed since his return from a groin injury late last month. The 28-year-old has had two good games - allowing three combined goals to powerhouse Boston and the always-tough Predators - mixed in with stinkers against league-worst Columbus (three goals on 28 shots) and Detroit (five goals on 31 shots). He has faced Edmonton just once, stopping 17 shots to earn the win earlier this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Dallas' power play is in a 2-for-24 tailspin, with both goals coming in the win over Boston.
2. Edmonton returns home for a three-game homestand after this one before hitting the road again for games in Columbus and St. Louis.
3. Hall has been solid since returning from a shoulder injury, recording six goals and four assists in 10 games. He comes into Saturday's game on a three-game goal-scoring streak.