Final
Senators-Stars Preview
Nov 23, 2015 - 7:39 PM Boosted by a strong homestand, the Ottawa Senators visit the NHL's hottest team with their goaltender playing at his highest level of the season.Craig Anderson puts his shutout streak on the line against the high-scoring Dallas Stars, who enter Tuesday night's matchup with a chance for their longest winning stretch in four seasons.
Anderson followed up a 25-save shutout Thursday against Columbus with 36 stops in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Philadelphia, capping a 3-0-2 residency for Ottawa (10-5-5) in which he posted a 1.22 goals-against average in four starts.
''Being in the right spot at the right time when the puck is coming in and just being patient and not trying to do too much. That's the key,'' he said.
Anderson wasn't nearly as sharp in the Senators' most recent road outing, permitting each goal in a 7-5 loss to Nashville on Nov. 10. Another tough task awaits in Tuesday's opener of this three-game trip, as the Western Conference-leading Stars' 74 goals trail only Montreal (78) for tops in the NHL.
Dallas (17-4-0) has 18 goals during its second five-game win streak of the season and received strong goaltending of its own last time out, with Antti Niemi's 22 saves supporting Jamie Benn's two third-period goals in Saturday's 3-0 win over Buffalo.
''He made some really big saves, especially early on when we had the power play,'' Benn said. ''We gave up a couple of short-handed breakaways, 2-on-1s, and he was there to back us up. It was pretty impressive to see. He definitely earned that shutout.''
Niemi had 24 saves in a 3-1 triumph at Buffalo four days earlier but has been at his best at American Airlines Center, compiling a 5-1-0 record with a 2.00 GAA and two shutouts in six starts.
Dallas, which last won six straight in March 2012, improved to 3-2-0 when trailing after two periods after Benn notched his league-leading 13th and 14th goals less than two minutes apart. The Stars are outscoring opponents 31-17 in the third.
"Maybe it's the speed that we bring that wears the teams down, and in the third period it just opens up," forward Antoine Roussel told the Stars' official website.
Benn has four goals and four assists during the win streak and defenseman John Klingberg also has eight points over the run. Tyler Seguin added two assists on Saturday to tie Klingberg and Chicago's Patrick Kane for the league lead.
Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan also have been going well, with Karlsson amassing five goals and five assists over a six-game point streak and Ryan generating 10 points over a career-high eight-game run.
The duo may have to remain productive to offset a defense that's allowing a league-high 34.3 shots per game and was porous in two 2014-15 losses to the Stars that extended their series losing streak to seven. The Senators haven't beaten the Stars since a 5-4 overtime victory at home Dec. 20, 2008, and last won in Dallas in December 2007.
Though Seguin didn't register a point in last year's meetings, Klingberg scored three of Dallas' 11 goals and Benn had two in a 6-3 win at Ottawa on Jan. 29.
- OTTAWA: 7
DALLAS: 4
Final
Feb 26 4:49 PM - OTTAWA: 7
DALLAS: 4
Final
Nov 24 11:09 PM - End of 3rd Period.
Nov 24 11:08 PM - Goal scored by Jean-Gabriel Pageau assisted by Alex Chiasson
Senators 6, Stars 3 3rd - 9:29Nov 24 10:50 PM - Shorthanded - Goal scored by Jamie Benn assisted by Jordie Benn
Senators 5, Stars 2 3rd - 13:53Nov 24 10:40 PM - Shorthanded - Goal scored by Jean-Gabriel Pageau assisted by Curtis Lazar
Senators 5, Stars 1 3rd - 15:53Nov 24 10:36 PM - End of 2nd Period.
Nov 24 10:09 PM - OTTAWA: 4
DALLAS: 1
End of 2nd
Nov 24 10:09 PM - Power play - Goal scored by Mike Hoffman assisted by Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson
Senators 4, Stars 1 2nd - 2:19Nov 24 10:05 PM - Goal scored by Patrick Sharp assisted by Cody Eakin and John Klingberg
Senators 2, Stars 1 2nd - 12:56Nov 24 9:46 PM - End of 1st Period.
Nov 24 9:16 PM - OTTAWA: 2
DALLAS: 0
End of 1st
Nov 24 9:16 PM - Goal scored by Milan Michalek assisted by Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone
Senators 2, Stars 0 1st - 1:11Nov 24 9:14 PM - OTTAWA: 0
DALLAS: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 24 8:40 PM - Jason Spezza won faceoff against Jean-Gabriel Pageau in neutral zone
Nov 24 8:40 PM
Related News
- Game 75 Hub: Ottawa Senators vs Philadelphia Flyers Mar 30
- Silver Seven is on the Move...Sort Of! Mar 30
- Thursday Links, News and Notes: Chabot Injury, Alternative Arena Locations Discussed, Toews (Maybe) Saying Goodbye and More Mar 30
- Welcome to Defending Big D 2.0 Mar 29
- BSens Drop to the Basement Mar 29
- GAME DAY THREAD: Stars @ Blackhawks (7:30 PM CT) Mar 28
- Stars, Domi Return to Chicago to face Blackhawks Mar 28
- Prospect Update - March 28th Mar 28
- Sens tame Panthers 5-2 Mar 27
- Game 74 Hub: Panthers @ Sens Mar 27
- Links, News, and Notes: Toronto Six Champs, Burke the Ally, Kings on Fire Mar 27
- Sens Lose Close Game 5-3 to New Jersey Devils Mar 25