Stars-Jackets matchup may come down to special teams

Coming off a lopsided win, the Dallas Stars are looking to finally build some momentum when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

The Stars are 3-6-4 in their last 13 games, and had been outscored 9-3 during an 0-3-0 losing streak heading into Tuesday's matchup with the Boston Bruins. With Dallas struggling and Boston on a six-game winning streak, the Stars suddenly flipped the script with their best performance in weeks.

Dallas' 6-2 rout saw the team tally the game's first six goals before Boston got on the board late in the third period. The Stars matched their season high with 37 shots and allowed their third-lowest number of shots (18) in a game this season.

"We had a great start and we kind of just built on that and put together a good 60 minutes," said forward Justin Hryckowian, who had a goal and two assists for his first multi-point performance in 54 career NHL games.

"So it's kind of what we've been looking for the last couple weeks. It was good to get that one. ... When you're playing the right way and every line's cooking, it was fun."

The offensive outburst came without team points leader Mikko Rantanen (63 points), who missed the game due to illness and is questionable to face the Blue Jackets.

Dallas was 2-for-3 on the power play after going 3-for-24 in its previous 11 games. The Stars are still among the NHL's leaders with a 29.2% power-play percentage, giving them a decided edge over a Columbus team whose 75.4% penalty-kill percentage is among the worst in the league.

As the Stars were ending their skid, the Blue Jackets' four-game winning streak was snapped by a 4-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. The Senators' 23 shots were the fewest by a Columbus opponent this season, but the Jackets' 22 shots were their season low.

Ottawa built a 2-1 lead by the 10:15 mark of the first period, and the Blue Jackets couldn't recover after the slow start.

"You lose 20 minutes, it's hard to impose your will once the game's already started," Columbus defenseman Erik Gudbranson said. "That's got to start from puck drop. ... You get in their face, you set the tone of the game, and you make them adjust to you. That's a big part of playing hockey, is starting on time."

Zach Werenski leads Columbus in assists (34) and points (52). The defensemen's 18 goals are tied with Kirill Marchenko for the team lead.

Elvis Merzlikins started Tuesday's game but departed after the first period due to illness. Jet Greaves played the last two periods against the Senators and will start Thursday if Merzlikins isn't ready.

Since the Stars play Friday at home against the St. Louis Blues, goalies Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith will split the two starts. Oettinger usually starts the first game of back-to-backs, though over his last seven games, Oettinger has struggled to a 2-4-1 record, 3.31 goals-against average and .868 save percentage.

In their first meeting this season, the Blue Jackets recorded a 5-1 victory in Dallas on Oct. 21.