Look at the Stars, look how they score on you…The Dallas Stars bring their high-scoring ways to Consol Energy Center later tonight, as they look to prolong their conference-best four-game win streak. The rejuvenated Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, have apparently recovered from the three-straight losses they suffered to open the season by winning all of their next three outings.
[sc:NHL240 ]Things are looking up for the Stars. Currently on a four-game win streak, Dallas plays the last of its four-game road trip later tonight when the team takes on Pittsburgh.
The last time they were on the ice, the Stars beat Philadelphia, 2-1. The Stars are averaging a tantalizing 3.5 goals per game so for them to win such a low-scoring game was an encouraging sign for their defense.
Goalie Antti Niemi was nearly flawless between the pipes in that game, as he stopped all but one of the Flyers’ 35 shots on goal. Niemi was in front of the net too when Dallas blanked Pittsburgh, 3-0, on October 8 so he’ll come into the game with a lot of confidence.
It’s not right to talk about Dallas, though, without expounding on its high-octane offense.
The top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and newcomer Patrick Sharp is going to be a headache for Pittsburgh. Benn is on some kind of mean streak, as he’s scored in each of the last four games, including twice in Dallas’ 4-2 win over Florida on Saturday. Seguin, meanwhile, has four goals and six assists thus far this season. Sharp hasn’t potted in a goal yet in Stars uniform, but he’ll certainly get lots of open looks with opposing teams paying too much attention on Benn and Seguin.
Moreover, the Stars will also look for their special units to strike again against Pittsburgh. In the first meeting, the Starts went 2-for-5 on the man advantage. Dallas is third in the NHL with a 31.3 PP%.
It took some time but Sidney Crosby finally ended his five-game streak of futility, when he scored a goal and assisted twice to help the Penguins extend their win streak to three games with a 3-2 overtime victory over Florida on Tuesday.
Crosby was held without a shot on goal in Pittsburgh’s loss to the Stars earlier this season, but with his offensive woes now behind him, it looks like a different kind of Crosby will be on the ice later tonight. Crosby’s resurgence along with Phil Kessel’s potential should be a great match for the aforementioned bustling top line of Dallas. Kessel, who scored a goal in the Florida game, has two goals and assist to show in six games this season.
The best offensive performer for the Pens, however, is in their second line. Evgeni Malkin raised his team-leading totals to three goals and five points, when he scored on the power play and made an assist against the Panthers. Malkin’s power play goal drenched Pittsburgh’s then barren power play that had previously went kaput in 17 tries on the man advantage.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, has played in all of the Pens’ six games, and he could be given a rest later tonight. If that’s the case, then backup Jeff Zatkoff would get the call. Zatkoff is 12-7-2 with a 2.58 GAA and .941 SV% since being drafted in 2006.
Pittsburgh is 6-1 in its last seven home games against the Stars.
