Red Wings at Stars
THE STORY:
The Dallas Stars could have done the Detroit Red Wings a favor by
beating the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Instead, the Stars dropped their
second straight game and third in the last four, keeping them out of the
top eight in the Western Conference. The Red Wings are battling at the
top of the conference and fighting the Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks
for Central Division supremacy. After securing its franchise-record 15th
consecutive home victory with a 5-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on
Monday, Detroit will embark on a quick two-game trip starting with
Dallas on Tuesday. The Stars have totaled one goal in their last two
games and have struggled to string wins together over the past month.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (29-15-1):
Detroit goes into play Tuesday one point behind the Blues and the
Blackhawks in the Central despite three straight wins and a 6-2-0 mark
in its last eight. The Red Wings scraped by with a win in overtime and
another in a shootout before breaking out Monday against the Sabres.
Jimmy Howard secured his fifth shutout and NHL-best 27th win and could
be in net again Tuesday. Howard has played both ends of a back-to-back
six times already this season.
ABOUT THE STARS (24-19-1):
Dallas has lost to the Red Wings twice already in 2011-12, allowing a
total of 10 goals in the process. The Stars figured to improve when top
netminder Kari Lehtonen returned to the lineup late last month but have
scored more than two goals only once in his last four starts and
continue to be just off the pace in the West. Leading scorer Jamie Benn
was a scratch again Monday as he continues to recover from an
appendectomy performed Sunday.
OVERTIME:
1. The Stars had taken five of six in the series until this season.
2. Detroit right wing Todd Bertuzzi recorded a goal and two assists in the triumph and has five points in the last two games.
3. Howard owns a 4-4-1 career record with a 2.55 goals against average against Dallas.