• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Stars embark on three-game western trip

Jan 3, 2007 - 3:22 PM Dallas (25-15-0) at Vancouver (21-18-1) 10:00 pm EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars start what could be a tough three-game western road trip with a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

The first two games of the four the clubs play this season have been close. Dallas nipped Vancouver, 2-1, at home on October 23. The Canucks evened the series with a 2-1 home triumph on November 3.

The Stars also visit the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday and the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Winners in two of its last three games, Dallas must try to rebound from a 4-2 home loss to the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. The puzzling aspect of the defeat was the play of Marty Turco, who entered with consecutive shutouts of the Sharks.

Turco, whose 2.23 goal-against average is fifth in the league, was replaced midway through the first period after surrendering three goals on only 10 shots.

The Canucks have won four straight after a huge 3-2 road win against the Flames on Tuesday.

Alex Burrows picked a great time to score his first goal of the season, as he tallied at the 15:29 mark of the second period for the eventual game-winning goal.

Trevor Linden and Brendan Morrison scored for the Canucks, who went only 1-for-11 on the power play, but were sharp in denying Calgary on all seven of its chances with the extra skater.

Vancouver's power play, connecting at 15.0 percent, is the 24th ranked unit in the league.