The Dallas Stars wrap up a four-game road trip in Motown against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings are ready to do battle in the final game of their season series. In the last meeting in Dallas, the Stars won 6-3.
This game comes at the end of a four-game road trip for the Stars, and they have not had the easiest time in the past three games.
Mason Marchment had to miss the game against the New Jersey Devils due to illness, and then Scott Wedgewood had to play both sides of a back-to-back because Jake Oettinger came down with the flu. And of course, the Stars are still missing Miro Heiskanen now nine games after suffering an injury against the Colorado Avalanche.
Despite everything, the Stars came out of those three games at an even 1-1-1. After a really poor showing against the Philadelphia Flyers, they came out hot against the Devils and re-grouped.
The team carried that momentum onto Long Island and led 2-1 in the third, but couldn't hold on and only walked away with one point after Bo Horvat won it for the Islanders in overtime.
The Red Wings are coming off a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and are 7-2-1 in their last ten games. Patrick Kane has not played since he suffered a hand injury against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 14th.
The last time these two teams met, the Red Wings were on a different trajectory, in a bit of a slump that would continue with their loss in Dallas. The Stars went down 1-0 early, but answered with two goals to end the first period up 2-1. About halfway through the second period, they added two more quick goals to extend the lead to 4-1.
Things got a little shaky in the third when Detroit was able to mount a comeback and make it 4-3, but the Stars immediately answered 30 seconds later and then added one more later in the period, making it a 6-3 final.
In that game, Miro Heiskanen had two goals and an assist, making him the first star of the game. The team also got goals from Esa Lindell, Joe Pavelski, Matt Duchene and Jason Robertson. Both teams were given four power-plays - the Stars capitalized on two of them, whereas the Red Wings were only able to convert one.
Interestingly enough, Esa Lindell has more points against Detroit than against any other one team, with 16 in 21 career games. Lindell has been quietly driving more offense than usual without the threat of Heiskanen on the ice, and his contributions have been at key times.
The entire defense stepped up their shooting game against the Islanders, totaling 16 shots, including five from Thomas Harley and four from goal scorer Nils Lundkvist. Only Joel Hanley did not record a shot on goal.
Both teams feature a forward on a hot streak, as Jason Robertson has six points in the last five games and Dylan Larkin has seven points in his last five games.
There is also some bad blood lingering between the two teams stemming from a neck injury caused by Jamie Benn on Dylan Larkin back in 2021. Larkin had another neck injury December 10 that caused him to lay motionless on the ice for several minutes.
Larkin missed the previous game against Dallas, but the game was noticeably chippy and especially when Benn was on the ice. With both players healthy for the game this time, it will be interesting to see if this game features the same type of animosity.
Projected lines:
Robertson-Hintz-Johnston
Marchment-Duchene-Seguin
Benn-Steel-Pavelski
Dellandrea-Faksa-Dadanov
Suter-Lundkvist
Lindell-Hakanpaa
Harley-Hanley
Oettinger
Wedgewood
At morning skate, Pete DeBoer announced that Oettinger would be back in goal. He also advised that Ty Dellandrea would stay in the lineup, as Craig Smith is still injured. Smith left the second period against the Islanders and did not return.
He also gave an update on Heiskanen and he is hopeful that he can play in one of the last two games before the All-Star Game.
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. CST and can be seen on Bally Sports Southwest.
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