Fresh off of two wins in the province of Alberta, the Dallas Stars head southwest to wrap up their season series against the Seattle Kraken, playing two consecutive games Saturday and Monday night.
The two teams last met back in early October when Casey DeSmith logged his first shutout of the season, a 2-0 win for Dallas. Since then, both teams have had quite different trajectories to their season. Dallas, clear contenders from the beginning of the season, are encroaching on the 100 point mark and have only added more depth and talent to their roster.
Seattle, meanwhile, was projected to be just outside of the playoffs but were hoping to improve on last season's step back. They have continued that step back under coach Dan Bylsma and are still trying to find their identity as an organization. The team traded away quality players at the deadline in return for assets for the future.
The Stars are on a four game win streak, winning their first two on the current road trip against the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Seattle, oddly enough, played the exact same two teams prior to Saturday, going 1-1-1 with a loss in Edmonton, an overtime loss in Calgary and finally a drubbing of the Oilers with a massive 6-1 win.
While the Stars play has been less impressive of late, the results have still been positive. The defense has struggled, the offense has generated goals but the team has been out-shot pretty routinely since the trade deadline. Everyone has been anticipating a breakout from Mikko Rantanen knowing how he was able to produce goals with Nathan MacKinnon by his side in Colorado. It seems as though he is getting there, posting four points in his last three games, including a massive goal against Calgary.
On paper, this should be a must-win for the Stars, but things have not come that easy recently and the Stars are going to have to put their best foot forward while also trying to patch up the holes they have in their game. Seattle is not an easy team to play against, with plenty of young talent ready to secure their spot for this season and beyond, and a veteran blue line to challenge the Dallas offense.
The Stars are switching up their lineup tonight, going with 11 forwards and seven defenseman for the first time in a long while. Brendan Smith is drawing in, with Colin Blackwell and Oskar Back getting scratched. Smith could play as a defenseman or a forward based on how the game goes.
Jake Oettinger will start in net.
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