Game Preview: Stars Look For Matinee Sweep In Divisional Matchup at St. Louis

The Dallas Stars are coming off an impressive 3-2 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon. After trailing 2-0 in the first, they stormed back to win the game in regulation, extending their winning streak to four games while ending what was a 10-game streak for the Pens.

Now, the task gets tougher as Dallas plays the second game of a rare back-to-back of afternoon games, traveling to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Sunday.

After seeing six games postponed due to COVID, this will mark the Stars’ first road game since their 4-1 loss to St. Louis on Dec. 17. Similar to the Stars’ last few opponents, the Blues are one of the hottest teams in the league. They currently sit second in the Central Division and hold a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games. On top of that, they are 10-0-1 in their last 11 home games and have had their way with the Stars in the last two contests, both 4-1 victories.

“Listen, there is no changing how we play at home or on the road,” Rick Bowness said. “The key is being able to do it on the road. The key is to play the way we did tonight in the second and third. We’ve got to show up, we’ve got to compete, and we’ve gotta trust each other and have structure to what we’re doing. If we do those three things, we are going to be okay.”

With the quick turnaround, the Stars lineup is unknown heading into this matchup. However, after playing a tough game against the Pens, and playing their third game in four nights against a heavy division rival, expect to see some new faces when they hit the ice at Enterprise Center Sunday afternoon.

Braden Holtby will get the start in net today after Jake Oettinger delivered a stellar performance on Saturday. Holtby, like the Stars (4-9-1), has struggled on the road this season, holding a 2-5-1 record leading up to Sunday. It is likely that Dallas will need a big performance from him with the Blues playing well and coming off a rest day following their 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Friday night.

This game feels like one in which the Stars will need an unsung hero. The top two lines have been dominant as of late, so that should allow some more options when the Blues match up with the top line. However, playing against a heavy and defensive team in St. Louis, it will take a big effort from every guy in the lineup to leave with two points.

With a win in regulation, the Stars can become the second team in NHL history to end an opponent’s double-digit win or point streak on consecutive days. While this is an impressive feat, a long and hard-fought 60 minutes stand in their way. It should be fun to watch.