Flames at Stars
THE STORY: A home-and-home series may just be what the doctor ordered for both the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. Although both clubs in the mix for the final few playoff spots in the Western Conference, they can improve their standing and decimate a contending team by taking both contests. Saturday afternoon's tilt will take place at American Airlines Center.
TV: 2 p.m., RSW, KTXA
ABOUT THE FLAMES (34-26-15): With the increasing potential for a third straight playoff-less season on the horizon, Calgary has reason to hang its head. After succumbing to cellar-dwelling Columbus and Edmonton, the Flames fell to 0-1-3 in their last four after squandering a two-goal lead en route to a 3-2 shootout loss to reeling Minnesota on Thursday. Jarome Iginla and Calgary's entire offense must shoulder much of the blame. The captain has been held off the scoresheet entirely during the stretch while the rest of his mates have mustered just five goals.
ABOUT THE STARS (40-29-5): Dallas has followed a brilliant 10-0-1 stretch by winning just one of its last four contests. The Stars dropped a 2-1 decision to Vancouver on Friday night - and merely minutes later were bounced from the top spot in ultra-tight Pacific Division after Los Angeles and Phoenix scratched for victories. C Vernon Fiddler netted his team's lone goal to snap a scoreless streak of 24 games. G Kari Lehtonen has permitted just two goals in both victories over the Flames this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Flames G Miikka Kiprusoff has yielded just five goals en route to losing his last three games past regulation. The 35-year-old Finn has dropped 16 of 25 (9-11-5) career contests versus the Stars.
2. Despite losing to Vancouver, Dallas is 12-4-0 against teams from the Northwest Division and 9-2-1 versus the Canadian clubs.