Streaking Stars host Oilers in potential offensive showcase
The red-hot Dallas Stars look to extend their points' streak to 14 games when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Dallas is 12-0-1 in its last 13 games, tied for the second-longest points streak in club history. The 1998-99 Stars -- the franchise's only Stanley Cup-winning squad -- are first in the team record books with a 15-game streak.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dallas' ongoing streak is that the Stars have been succeeding even while such key regulars as Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Radek Faksa and Tyler Seguin are all out with long-term injuries.
"We've had so many different guys contribute ... I just think it's been by committee," goalie Jake Oettinger said. "Obviously two of our best players are hurt, and when you can beat really good teams without two of your top guys, it just shows how deep you are."
Oettinger is 9-0-1 with a 2.55 goals-against average in his last 10 starts and is expected to face Edmonton.
The Stars defeated the Oilers in the first two of their three meetings this season. Dallas is 6-1-1 in its last eight regular-season games against Edmonton, but the Oilers eliminated the Stars in each of the last two Western Conference finals.
The two rivals did each other a favor with their most recent victories on Tuesday. The Oilers' 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche helped the Stars move within five points of Colorado for the Central Division and Western Conference leads.
Between Edmonton's win and the Stars' 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Oilers moved into second place in the Pacific Division, tied with Vegas on points but ahead on a tiebreaker.
Tuesday's win over the Avalanche came at a significant cost to the Oilers' lineup. Colton Dach, Ty Emberson and Connor Ingram all left the game due to injury.
For Ingram, a second-period collision with Nathan MacKinnon forced the goalie out of the game and into concussion protocol. Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said post-game that Ingram was "feeling well," but it remains to be seen if Ingram will remain symptom-free.
Since the Oilers also face the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Edmonton is now facing uncertainty in net. Tristan Jarry will start one of the back-to-back games, and his start may come against Dallas if Ingram needs more evaluation time. Calvin Pickard would be called up from the AHL if Ingram is unable to play.
Whomever is in the Oilers' net faces a big challenge against the Stars' dangerous power play. The Stars have gone 10 consecutive games with at least one extra-attacker goal, and their 29.7% power-play percentage ranks second in the NHL.
Not to be outdone, Edmonton's league-best power play (33.1%) is 11-for-23 in its last eight games.
"I've seen a lot of good penalty kills but our guys usually have an answer for it ... I just have a lot of respect for our power play," Knoblauch said.
Connor McDavid leads the NHL with 74 assists and 110 points. McDavid (two goals, 13 assists) and Evan Bouchard (three goals, 12 assists) each have 15 points during eight-game points streaks.
Jason Robertson leads the Stars with 74 points (34 goals, 40 assists). Wyatt Johnston also has 34 goals, and Rantanen leads the Stars with 49 assists despite missing seven games with a lower-body injury.