[8:39 PM] Blues @ Stars

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Blues (17-11-4)

@ Dallas Stars (13-14-6)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jake Allen(STL): Confirmed

Antti Niemi(DAL): Likely

 

• The Dallas Stars continue a critical five-game homestand against the Central Division-rival St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Dallas coach Lindy Ruff told reporters last week, “I think all the season is going to land on this homestand,” and the Stars are responding with two victories in three contests, including a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Saturday that snapped the Flyers’ 10-game winning streak and unveiled an unlikely combatant in Dallas’s lineup.

• Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 16th goal of the season Monday and third in five games, and leads the NHL with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in December while remaining two points behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid for the NHL lead (40-38). Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, second on the club with 23 points, recorded an assist Monday and has four points in his last four games. Jake Allen (15-7-3, 2.60 goals-against average, .905 save percentage) is expected to start in goal Tuesday after backup Carter Hutton manned the crease Monday.

• Ruff separated Tyler Seguin (10 goals, team-best 32 points), Jamie Benn (nine, 28) and Spezza (five, 15) on Saturday after the trio went scoreless in three of the four games they were together since combining for eight points in their debut as linemates. Patrick Eaves leads Dallas with 11 goals, but scored only twice in the past 14 games since recording six in a five-game outburst last month. Antti Niemi (7-4-3, 2.85, .913) is expected to make his fourth straight start in goal Tuesday since he is 7-2-1, 1.81, .943 at home while center Cody Eakin misses the second contest of a four-game suspension after his illegal hit on New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Thursday.

• Dallas D Jamie Oleksiak scored twice in the Nov. 28 meeting while D John Klingberg recorded a pair Nov. 3.

• Tarasenko has nine goals and 14 points in 16 games versus the Stars.

• Dallas’ power play is 2-for-23 in its last seven games, dropping its success rate to 16.5 percent overall and 14.8 at home.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Dallas Stars

Confidence: 5/10

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