Gather 'round on the couch, my fellow felines - tonight, the Dallas Stars prowl back home to the American Airlines Center, ready to battle the Los Angeles Kings in a fierce Western Conference showdown. The Stars, sitting pretty at 37-19-2, hold second place in the conference with 76 points, while the Kings, at 31-17-8, lurk in sixth with 70 points. Historically, Dallas has had the upper paw in this matchup, winning seven of their last ten meetings, but the Kings clawed out a 5-4 victory in their most recent scrap. Both teams are coming off losses, the Stars fell 5-4 to the Blue Jackets, while the Kings were declawed by the Canucks - so expect a tight, feisty Texas tumble with both squads desperate to turn things around. Over their last eight games, both teams boast identical 5-3-0 records, making this a true cat-and-mouse contest.
The Stars have been purring along at home this season, where they’ve been especially dominant. Goaltender Oettinger has been a fortress in net, boasting a 27-13-2 record, a 2.4 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage. Up front, Robertson has been a consistent playmaker, helping the Stars maintain a 3.0 goals-per-game average over their last ten outings. Their power play has been clicking at a dangerous 28.0%, making them a serious threat whenever they get an extra skater. However, with Miro Heiskanen off due to injury, normally munching up over 25 minutes of ice time, the Stars will need others to step up and share the workload on the blue line.
The Kings prowl into this game looking to improve their road performance. Kempe leads the attack with 26 goals and 23 assists for 49 points, but the Kings’ offensive output has been a little muted lately, averaging just 2.4 goals per game over their last ten contests. Their power play has been sputtering at 13.6%, something they’ll need to sharpen up if they want to sink their claws into this game. The return of future Hall of Famer Drew Doughty from injury, fresh off the Four Nations triumph, is a massive boost for their blue line. His presence will be crucial in tightening up a Kings defense that has been a bit leaky this season.
Considering both teams' current standings and recent performances, the Dallas Stars appear poised to capitalize being back in AA Center post a six game away stretch. Their offensive production, combined with solid goaltending from Oettinger, positions them favorably against the Kings. While the Kings have proven they’re no pushovers, their road struggles and defensive inconsistencies, despite the return of Doughty, could leave them vulnerable. Expect a close fight, but the Stars have the sharper claws in this matchup. Dallas should come away with the win.
You’re welcome!
