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The Dallas Stars will look to continue their dominance of the Blackhawks when the two clubs meet Saturday night in Chicago.
Dallas is 9-1-0 in its last 10 meetings with the Blackhawks, dating to the 2020-21 season. That lopsided record includes two wins last month as the Stars recorded a 5-4 overtime victory on Dec. 29 and an 8-1 rout on Dec. 31.
Those two wins were part of Dallas’ 9-4-2 record in its last 15 games, although the Stars didn’t look sharp in a 6-3 home loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday. Dallas was outshot 38-22, and Nashville’s six tallies matched the Stars’ second-highest goals-allowed total of the season.
For the majority of the game, Stars coach Pete DeBoer felt “we didn’t get pucks or bodies into the scoring areas. We just played a soft perimeter game. … Shots against, scoring chances, bad penalties. A lot of disappointing areas tonight that lead you to the result.”
The Stars are 3-0-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season, which bodes well for a quick rebound on Saturday.
While Dallas aims to bounce back from one bad game, the last-place Blackhawks still are trying to garner momentum during another difficult season. Even the bright spot of Connor Bedard’s rookie season has been put on hold, as the top overall pick of the draft will be out until at least mid-February after undergoing jaw surgery.
Chicago is 1-6-1 in its last eight games, including a pair of tough 2-1 defeats in its last two games. The Blackhawks lost to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday despite allowing only 15 shots, then allowed two goals within the last 3:29 of regulation in a setback to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.
“We skated hard, but I thought we just backed off a little bit in the last five minutes,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said following the loss to Winnipeg. “The other team was desperate and came at us and got two good chances. … It was definitely disappointing not even getting into overtime for a point on the road.”
Chicago might receive some defensive help on Saturday, as Seth Jones has been taking part in practices. Jones has missed the Blackhawks’ last 15 games due to a shoulder injury.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek likely will receive his 11th start in Chicago’s last 14 games. Mrazek has a 3.17 goals-against average this season, yet he has emerged as the Blackhawks’ preferred option in net over the struggling Arvid Soderblom.
Scott Wedgewood likely will get the nod for Dallas on Saturday since Jake Oettinger started on Friday. Oettinger stopped 32 of 36 Nashville shots in his return after a 12-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
Wedgewood was solid during Oettinger’s absence, posting a 6-3-2 record.
Stars forward Tyler Seguin is on a five-game points streak and has 10 points (six goals, four assists) over his last seven games.
Jason Robertson leads the Stars with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists). Bedard paces Chicago with 33 points, but Philipp Kurashev’s 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) are tops among the Blackhawks’ list of active players.
–Field Level Media
