Stars @ Canucks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Stars (13-10-3)

@ Vancouver Canucks (11-14-3)

Starting Goalies:

Ben Bishop (DAL): Confirmed

Jacob Markstrom (VAN): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Dallas Stars: (-120)

Vancouver Canucks: (+100)

• Brock Boeser’s first two goals since returning from an injury that cost him nearly a month wasn’t enough for the reeling Vancouver Canucks as they lost 4-3 to Vegas on Thursday – their 10th defeat in 11 games. The Canucks will look to turn the page on a terrible November when the Dallas Stars finish up a four game road trip in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. Another closely contested battle ended in defeat for Vancouver Thursday as William Karlsson’s shorthanded game-winning goal late in the third period handed the Canucks their seventh one-goal defeat in their last 11 losses.

• Dallas is looking to leave Western Canada with consecutive victories after Tyler Seguin scored 24 seconds into overtime to give the Stars a 4-3 win in Calgary Wednesday. Captain Jamie Benn made up for the two minor penalties he committed in the third period – his second leading to a game-tying goal by Johnny Gaudreau – by assisting on Seguin’s OT winner that gave the Stars their first win in five chances this season on the second night of a back-to-back.

• Benn scored his team-leading 10th goal in the second period Wednesday but it was the drive he showed in needing to redeem his miscues that caught the attention of his teammates. “Obviously he played that overtime with a little guilt,” Seguin told reporters. “I’m happy how hard he worked. He’s our leader and captain and everyone follows him.” The Stars are holding on to the last wild-card spot in the West as they have four wins in 10 games since they lost defenseman John Klingberg to injury and they have missed their power-play anchor while going 3-for-29 with the man advantage since he went down.

• The Canucks got the production they needed Thursday from their top guys with Bo Horvat chipping in with two assists and rookie Elias Pettersson recording his 22nd point in as many games with a highlight no-look pass to Boeser to open the scoring. Defenseman Alex Edler potted his first goal of the season against Vegas and is expected to play Saturday despite being put through the league’s concussion protocol after a heavy hit late in the third from the Golden Knights’ Ryan Reaves. Vancouver’s health – or lack thereof – continues to be a story as Edler was in his third game back after missing 15 games with a knee injury, forward Antoine Roussel was a late scratch against Vegas with a shoulder injury, and they have three experienced regulars already on injured reserve – forwards Sven Baertschi, Brandon Sutter, and Jay Beagle.

• Stars G Ben Bishop (lower body) is expected to return between the pipes Saturday after a five-game absence.

• Vancouver had nine points (3-8-3) in November – second-fewest in the league to the Blackhawks’ eight (3-8-2).

• Vancouver leads the NHL with the most power play goals against (25) and most times shorthanded (105).