Stars vs Canucks Preview
Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
9:00 PM
TV: Fox Sports Southwest Plus
Radio: The Ticket 1310 AM/ 96.7 FM
About The Stars
The Stars (11-13-5) are coming off a 4-3 win over New Jersey Saturday. It was the response that the Stars were looking for after a 5-2 horrendous loss to the Winnipeg Jets. After the loss, they had three hard practices to work on their game.
Wednesday’s game kicks off a three game road trip through Canada, their first stop in Vancouver (today), then Calgary (Friday) and will finish their road trip in Edmonton (Sunday)
Forward Travis Moen, who missed Saturday’s game wih an upper body injury, has practiced the past two days and is available to play. Back up Anders Lindback who is back from a five game stint in the AHL, is expected to play one of the three road games this week, but which is unknown by the team.
Kari Lehtonen will get the start in the net for the Stars.
Injuries: RW Patrick Eaves (ankle), RW Valeri Nichushkin (hip) and
D Patrik Nemeth (arm) are out. Out: Ryan Garbutt (suspension)
About the Canucks
The Canucks (18-10-2) are coming off a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers Sunday in Vancouver. Defensive lapses and sub-par goaltending have proved costly during the Canucks’ longest losing streak of the season. Vancouver has allowed 17 goals during the losing streak and Ryan Miller has posted a 4.11 goals-against average in dropping four of his last five starts.
Wednesday’s game is the second of a four-game homestand for the Canucks.
Injuries: D Dan Hamhuis (lower body), RW Zach Kassian (finger) and LW Tom Sestito (lower body) are out
Season series: Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen made 43 saves, and forward Erik Cole had two goals in a 6-3 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 21 at American Airlines Center. Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller was pulled after allowing five goals on 13 shots. Dallas was 3-0-0 last season, outscoring Vancouver 12-3.
