The Dallas Stars will try to secure their third win of the
season over the Central Division-leading Chicago Blackhawks, as the two clubs
meet tonight at United Center.
Though the Blackhawks are second in the Western Conference standings with 81
points, good enough for a 15-point edge over the second-place Predators in the
Central, they have lost both of their meetings this year to the Stars after
sweeping the four-game set last season.
The Stars skated to a 4-3 win in Chicago back on October 17, then got two
goals from Steve Ott and 33 saves from Marty Turco in a 5-4 home victory on
December 29.
Dallas has still lost five of its last seven at Chicago and has dropped 12 of
its last 13 on the road overall this year. The Stars begin a three-game road
trip this evening after winning for the 10th time in their last 12 at home on
Saturday.
Turco made 34 saves in a 4-0 blanking of Phoenix. The Stars netminder notched
his third shutout of the season and 39th of his career.
Jamie Benn scored twice while James Neal and Loui Eriksson each had a goal and
an assist for the Stars, who have won four of their last six overall.
Dallas, three points behind Nashville for the eighth spot in the West, hope
the return of Mike Ribeiro can spark its road game. Ribeiro was activated from
injured reserve on Monday following an absence of 15 games after undergoing a
procedure to repair a throat contusion, which included a tracheotomy.
Ribeiro suffered the injury on January 6 and has 10 goals and 23 assists in 43
games this year.
"I know he's very excited about coming back into the fold," said Stars coach
Marc Crawford on Dallas' Web site. "It's been five weeks since the injury, so
we feel pretty good that he's pushed as hard as he has to get himself back
into a position where he can help us as we get closer to a playoff spot."
The return of Ribeiro comes as the Stars learned they will be without both
Steve Ott (appendectomy) and Mark Fistric (knee surgery) until after the
Olympic break.
The Blackhawks host the Stars just days after snapping a season-long three-
game skid with a 2-1 triumph in St. Louis on Saturday. Jonathan Toews and
Patrick Sharp both scored first-period goals and Antti Niemi made 34 saves.
Niemi lost his shutout bid with just 1:46 left in regulation.
"It's a fun line to play on, that's for sure," Sharp said of playing with
Toews and Patrick Kane. "I think all three of us would say we like playing
with each other. I think we played strong, and I think we played well in our
[defensive] zone, and it led to some chances."
The Blackhawks play their next two games at home, where they are 21-6-2 this
year. They trail the Sharks by six points for the most in the West.
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