STARS (24-21-9) at
DUCKS (40-11-5)
TV: TXA-21, FS-W
Last 10: Dallas 4-4-2; Anaheim 7-3-0
Season series: Anaheim and Dallas conclude a three-game season series tonight at Honda Center. The Ducks and Stars have traded 6-3 wins in the first two games, including Oct. 20 at Honda Center (Anaheim win) and Nov. 26 at American Airlines Center (Dallas win). These two teams were Pacific Division opponents for 15 seasons prior to the start of the 2013-14 campaign when the Stars moved to the Central Division. All-time, Anaheim is 39-59-11 vs. Dallas, including a 36-56-11 mark at Honda Center. Teemu Selanne has appeared in 100 career contests vs. the Stars, earning 41-45=86 points.
Big story: The NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks continue a season-tying five-game homestand vs. the Dallas Stars tonight at Honda Center (7 p.m., FS West/AM 830). The Ducks have gone 22-4-0 in their last 26 games, including a 12-2-0 mark at Honda Center and 10-2-0 road record. The Ducks are 15-1-2 vs. the Pacific Division and a league-best 23-6-2 (.774 points %) vs. the Western Conference. At 40-11-5 for 85 points, Anaheim is riding its best start to a season through 56 games, improving upon the previous mark of 33-15-8 for 74 points in 2006-07. The Ducks have also scored the most goals (187, second in NHL this season) and allowed the fewest (133) through 56 games in club history. In January, Anaheim went 11-3-0 to match a club record for wins in a month for the second month in a row (Dec., 11-1-0). Following tonight’s contest, the Ducks will continue their homestand with games vs. Columbus (Feb. 3) and Chicago (Feb. 5).
Team Scope:
Ducks: After a physical battle in a 5-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Anaheim has to shift gears and prepare for an opponent that relies on speed. The Stars used that speed to dominate the Ducks in their previous meeting, a 6-3 victory in Dallas on Nov. 26.
"The Stars have given us fits," said defenseman Ben Lovejoy. "They're a very good team. They have size and speed up front. They truly dominated us last game.
"We owe them one. They outplayed us. We have to come out with a significantly better effort."
Stars: Getting seven of 10 points on a homestand isn't bad, but it's not good enough when you're on the outside looking in. With 57 points, Dallas is eight behind the Minnesota Wild for fourth place in the Central Division and six in back of the Vancouver Canucks for the final wild-card berth.
Nor do the Stars face an easy trip. After Anaheim, they visit the Phoenix Coyotes and San Jose Sharks on back-to-back nights before hosting the Coyotes on Saturday in their final game before the Olympic break.
"We've got our final push before the break and we just want to focus on what's ahead of us." Stars coach Lindy Ruff told the media Friday. "We've got to play some good teams and we're going into their buildings. It's not going to be easy, and then we come home for one. We'll take it one game at a time, but if we can play .750 hockey (win three of four), we'll get back up in the standings."
Who's hot: Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick against Philadelphia; he has four points in his past three games and 16 in his past 12. ... Stars center Tyler Seguin has three goals and five assists during a four-game point streak.
Injury report: Ducks forward Nick Bonino is day-to-day after leaving the game against Philadelphia with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Viktor Fasth (lower body) hasn't played since mid-November. ... Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas (broken leg) is out.
