Blackhawks at Stars
The league-leading Chicago Blackhawks look to begin another point streak Saturday, when they continue their four-game road trip against the Dallas Stars. Chicago set an NHL record by earning at least one point in each of its first 24 games before suffering back-to-back regulation losses to the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers. The Blackhawks ended their skid Thursday with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Central Division-rival Columbus Blue Jackets.
Dallas attempts to halt its three-game winless streak during which it has been outscored 7-2. Following a 2-1 loss to the Coyotes in Phoenix last Saturday, the Stars were blanked by the Nashville Predators in the opener of their four-game homestand on Tuesday and dropped a 2-1 shootout decision to the Anaheim Ducks two days later. Prior to its skid, Dallas scored 19 goals over its previous five games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (22-2-3): Coach Joel Quenneville must keep his team focused on the task at hand Saturday and make sure it isn't looking ahead to a rematch with the Avalanche in Colorado on Monday. The Avalanche halted the Blackhawks' season-opening point streak with a convincing 6-2 triumph at the Pepsi Center on March 8. "It's the same approach no matter who our opponent is - it's how we prepare, how we're ready for games," Quenneville said. "The simpler we play the game, the better off we are." Patrick Kane's assist on Chicago's lone goal Thursday was the 400th point of his career.
ABOUT THE STARS (12-11-3): Jamie Benn was one of nine players who participated in Friday's optional skate. The center, who has missed two games with a wrist injury, is questionable for Saturday's contest. "We'll see how he is at (Saturday's) skate," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. "He didn't shoot any pucks (on Friday), so we'll see how he is at the morning skate and we'll make a decision after that." The Stars are 0-1-1 on their four-game homestand, which concludes Monday against the Calgary Flames. Left wing Ray Whitney is riding a five-game point streak against Chicago during which he has recorded three goals and four assists.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago has won only eight of its last 30 visits to Dallas.
2. The Blackhawks are a league-best 14-1-3 in one-goal games, while the Stars are 7-6-3 in such contests.
3. The road team has captured the last three contests in the all-time series following a four-game winning streak by the home club.
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Stars 1