(SportsNetwork.com) – The Dallas Stars will try to avoid the beginnings of
another lengthy losing streak when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks for
Sunday’s battle at the United Center.
Dallas suffered through a seven-game losing streak (0-5-2) before snapping the
funk by going 2-0 on a brief road trip. The Stars, however, were back on the
losing end when they returned home and dropped Saturday’s 2-1 decision against
the Minnesota Wild.
The Stars have been a much better team on the road than at home, going 5-3-0
as the guest while sporting a poor 1-4-4 mark in Big D.
Dallas has not fared well against the Blackhawks recently, losing three
straight and nine of the last 10 meetings in this series. Chicago has claimed
two of the past three encounters in the Windy City. The Stars opened season in
Chicago on Oct. 9 and dropped a 3-2 shootout decision. Patrick Kane recorded
the lone goal of the tiebreaker to hand the Blackhawks the extra point.
Minnesota and the Stars were knotted 1-1 after 40 minutes on Saturday, but
Mikael Granlund netted the game-winner for the Wild just 40 seconds into the
third period.
Less than a minute into the final period, Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen
mishandled a flip from the right wing by Charlie Coyle, then Granlund was able
to poke the puck home from atop the crease.
Antoine Roussel scored for Dallas and Lehtonen stopped 20 shots in the loss.
“Our biggest issue has been at home where we beat ourselves,” said Stars coach
Lindy Ruff.
The Blackhawks were denied in their attempt to win three straight for the
first time this season the last time out, but they’ll try for a fourth victory
in six games tonight.
Chicago had won the final two tilts of a three-game homestand, but was handed
a 4-1 setback Friday evening in Detroit. Luke Glendening tallied a goal and an
assist to lead the Red Wings to victory.
Kane supplied Chicago’s lone marker and Corey Crawford made 33 saves in
defeat.
“I don’t think that’s the effort we’ve had at times,” said Blackhawks captain
Jonathan Toews. “We gave them two opportunities for their first two goals. We
didn’t get the response we wanted. We’ve got to keep the puck out of the
middle of the ice, especially in the defensive zone.”
Chicago is home for just one game before beginning a six-game swing Thursday
night in Calgary. The Blackhawks are 6-3-1 on home ice this season and 3-4-0
as the guest.
Lehtonen has started 14 of Dallas’ 17 games this season and could get the call
over Anders Lindback again on Sunday. Lehtonen is 5-6-3 with a 2.73 goals
against average in his career versus Chicago, while Lindback is 1-2-0 with a
4.01 GAA in this matchup.
Crawford will go for Chicago and is 9-5-0 with a 2.36 GAA in his career
against the Stars.
