Stars seek to end slump against surging Penguins. Can Dallas reignite its offense and halt Erik Karlsson's hot streak to secure a crucial playoff tune-up?
The Dallas Stars have been a team of extremes this season, alternating between dominant stretches and difficult slumps. After an incredible 14-0-1 run over 15 games, Dallas has cooled off significantly, dropping five of its last six contests.
Saturday offers a key opportunity for the Stars to reset and regain momentum as they enter the final 10 games of the regular season and prepare for the playoffs. They will face a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has experienced its own ups and downs. Pittsburgh is coming off back-to-back losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche but responded with a 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators.
The return of captain Sidney Crosby has provided a noticeable boost for the Penguins. With him back in the lineup, Pittsburgh has gone 5-3-3 over its last 11 games and has remained competitive against some of the league’s top teams, setting the stage for a strong matchup against Dallas.
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During their recent six-game skid, the Stars have been outscored 20-12, with their typically high-powered offense slowing to just two goals per game. Turning that around will be a priority, and much will depend on Jason Robertson, who has still managed to produce at a point-per-game pace despite the team’s struggles.
Defensively, Dallas will need to contain a red-hot Erik Karlsson, who is playing at an elite level reminiscent of his Norris Trophy-winning form. The Swedish defenseman has racked up 22 points over his last 15 games and is tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the third-most points in the league during that span.
With both teams looking to build momentum, Saturday’s game could be an important turning point as the regular season winds down.
Dallas Stars’ Expected Line Combinations vs. New Jersey (Tuesday)
Robertson - Johnston - Bourque
Steel - Duchene - Benn
Erne - Hryckowian - Blackwell
Back - Hyry - Bastian
Lindell - Heiskanen
Harley - Lundkvist
Bichsel - Myers
Oettinger
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