Stars-Ducks Preview

Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars
Thursday March 14
7:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Southwest
Radio: KTCK-1310 (AM)

About the Stars

The Stars (12-11-2) opened a four-game homestand with a 4-0 loss to Nashville on Tuesday. The Stars, who are 5-5-1 at home this season, have dropped four of their last six games at American Airlines Center.

“You have to take care of your games at home,” said Stars forward Ray Whitney. “It’s a tough schedule right now and everybody’s going to have a big homestand at some point with the amount of games we’re playing. And you’re not going to make the playoffs if you don’t play better at home and use that to your advantage.

“Certainly how we come out is going to be a factor in the rest of this homestand and the rest of this month. We have a pretty good month to try to get some momentum, and we can’t take that lightly. We’re certainly not going to be handed games, so we’re going to have to earn what we get.”

The Stars play eight of their next ten games at American Airlines Center.

Injuries: C Jamie Benn (wrist) is doubtful. LW Brenden Morrow (groin) is questionable. D Aaron Rome (foot) is out.

About the Ducks

The Ducks (19-3-3) ran their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 win at Minnesota on Tuesday.  Jonas Hiller stopped 30 shots for the Ducks, who had just seven shots through two periods and were down 1-0, but scored twice in the third to rally for the victory.

“You’ve got to be honest with yourself. I don’t think we played to the standard you need to play on a nightly basis,” said Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa, who scored the game-winning goal with 3:04 remaining. “But it shows the character of this team to battle through it.”

The loss was costly for the Ducks. Forward Corey Perry was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for a hit on the Wild’s Jason Zucker. The NHL suspended Perry four games on Wednesday.

Injuries: F Kyle Palmieri (upper body) is probable. G Viktor Fasth (upper body) is doubtful. F Corey Perry (suspended), F Nick Bonino (lower body) and F Brad Staubitz (facial laceration) are out.

Series Notes

*This is the second of five meetings between the Stars and Ducks.

*February 8, Anaheim at Dallas: Stars 3, Ducks 1

*The Stars are 6-0-1 in their last seven home games against Anaheim.

Statistical tidbits

*The Stars are 5-2-0 against the Pacific Division, including a 4-0-0 mark at home.

*The Ducks are 3-2-3 against the Pacific Division, and 16-1-0 against teams from the Central and Northwest Divisions.

*Anaheim has the best five-on-five goals for/goals against ratio in the league at 1.50. The Ducks have outscored their opponents 57-38 during five-on-five play.

*The Stars’ five-on-five goals for/goals against ratio is .0.94, which ranks 19^th. They’ve been outscored 47-44 during five-on-five play.

*The Ducks, who have the league’s top power play at 26.7%, are 3-22 (13.6%) on the power play over the last seven games.

*The Stars are 15-18 (83.3%) on the penalty kill over the last six games.

*Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller is 3-0-0 in his last three starts with a 1.00 goals against average and .963 save percentage.

*Hiller is 4-9-1 in his career vs. Dallas with a 2.78 goals against average and .912 save percentage.

*Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen is 8-5-0 in his career vs. Anaheim with a 2.46 goals against average and .918 save percentage.

Statistical matchup