Ducks vs. Stars Preview
DALLAS, TX – The Anaheim Ducks looked sluggish in their last game as they failed to match a franchise-record winning streak. They’re hoping to bounce back in the opener of another busy stretch of schedule.
The Ducks try to extend their point streak to eight Tuesday night when they go for their third victory this season over the Dallas Stars, who are hoping a return home can get them back on track.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Stars –145 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Ducks. Current NHL Public Betting Information shows that 67% of more than 459 bets for this game have been placed on the Ducks -145.
Anaheim (10-7-2) extended its winning streak to six with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Stars (8-7-0) on Friday. Bobby Ryan scored twice and Ryan Getzlaf and Saku Koivu also had goals as the Ducks won six straight for the first time since 2007-08.
Looking to equal the team-record seven-game run set in 1999, Anaheim fell 3-2 in overtime at Chicago on Sunday to begin a three-game trip.
“We didn’t have very much energy tonight, we looked tired,” said coach Randy Carlyle, whose team was playing for the fourth time in six nights. “We’ve played an awful lot of hockey, and we didn’t look like we had the crispness, but we still found a way to get a point.”
The Ducks are starting another stretch of four games in six days as they look to continue their domination of Dallas this season. Anaheim snapped a three-game road skid to the Stars with a 5-2 victory Oct. 26, getting two goals from Ryan.
While Dallas is coming off an 0-3-0 trip that ended Friday at Honda Center, the club has outscored opponents 15-5 while posting three straight victories on home ice.
The Stars last won four in a row at home during a five-game run from Jan. 8-29.
With his team trying to avoid a season-high fourth straight loss, coach Marc Crawford would like to see the Stars get off to a better start. They were outshot 18-5 in the opening 20 minutes Friday.
“We gutted it out and we got better as the game went along,” he said afterward.
The Stars, though, have lost their last four games when surrendering the first goal. They have won three straight when leading 1-0.
Likely to face Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller for the third time this season, the Stars will try to get their power play going. Dallas is 0 for 10 with the man advantage during its skid.
The Ducks had killed off 22 of 24 penalties before allowing two power-play goals to Chicago.
“You never want to give up opportunities on the power play,” said Hiller, who made 40 saves after needing stitches to close a cut above his eye sustained during practice Saturday.
Anaheim has gone 1 of 9 on the power play in the last four games. The Ducks were a man up for the first 1:07 of overtime Sunday but failed to record a shot on goal.
Selanne and Getzlaf lead the club in power-play goals with four and three, respectively.
Kari Lehtonen has a 4.04 goals-against average in two games against Anaheim this season, so Crawford could give the start to backup Andrew Raycroft, who is 4-1-0 with a 2.89 GAA in five starts versus the Ducks.
Stars leading scorer Brad Richards, one goal shy of 200, has tallied six goals and six assists in his last 10 games against Anaheim.
For updated odds on this game and all NHL games throughout the 2010-11 season, check out our NHL Odds page.