(SportsNetwork.com) – The Dallas Stars will try to avoid their longest losing
streak since 2009 on Saturday night as they take on a San Jose Sharks club
that is kicking off an 11-day road trip.
The Stars are coming off a 3-2 loss at home to the Nashville Predators,
getting goals from Trevor Daley and Patrick Eaves as well as 30 saves by Kari
Lehtonen.
Dallas had some chances at the end of the game, with Jamie Benn missing a
wide-open net wide before Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne came up with
several big saves. That included one on a bouncing puck as the final horn
sounded as the Stars fell to 0-4-2 in their last six games.
“I think (Rinne) was the difference maker at the end,” said Dallas head coach
Lindy Ruff.
The Stars will now try to avoid going without a point in seven straight for
the first time since an 0-5-2 rut from March 17-30, 2009. They may attempt to
do so without forward Cody Eakin, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury
that held him out of Thursday’s loss.
Lehtonen is 5-7-3 with a 3.30 goals against average and .908 save percentage
in 15 career meetings with the Sharks.
San Jose is set to play seven times over its road trip, but head to Dallas on
a sour note following Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Vancouver Canucks.
The Sharks had won three of four, but couldn’t top the Canucks despite a 36-19
shot advantage.
James Sheppard and Logan Couture scored for the Sharks and Joe Thornton nearly
forced overtime on a a shot that banked off of Vancouver goaltender Ryan
Miller. However, time had just expired before the puck went into the net.
“I think we played hard,” said Sheppard. “I’m sure we will bounce back and
take what we can from this game.”
Antti Niemi made 16 saves in his fifth straight start and figures to get a
rest either tonight or on Sunday in Chicago. He is 9-4-5 with a 2.28 GAA and
.920 save percentage in his career versus the Stars, while backup Alex Stalock
has won both of his previous meetings with the club, stopping 63-of-66 shots
faced.
The Sharks are 3-0-1 in their past four versus the Stars, but 1-2-2 in their
last five trips to Dallas.
