• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Stars-Ducks Preview

Mar 28, 2010 - 4:49 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Dallas (33-28-14) at Anaheim (35-31-8), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Loui Eriksson has given the Anaheim Ducks plenty of problems this season.

Eriksson will try to continue his success in the season series as his Dallas Stars look to end the Ducks' four-game home win streak Monday night.

Dallas (33-28-14) is 3-0-1 against Anaheim (35-31-8). The two worst teams in the Pacific Division, which have not met since December, will likely miss the playoffs.

A major reason for the Stars' success in this series has been Eriksson, who has four goals and five assists against the Ducks and recorded his second career hat trick in a 5-3 victory Dec. 31. The right wing has a team-high 27 goals, and his 65 points are two more than his previous career high set last season.

The Stars have also gotten six points from James Neal and five from Brad Richards in the four matchups with the Ducks.

Richards scored two of Dallas' four power-play goals in a 4-1 victory at Los Angeles on Saturday. He added an assist to bring his point total to 85 - six shy of his career high set in 2005-06.

"Brad's always been the playmaker and the quarterback on the power play," left wing Brenden Morrow said. "He always makes the unexpected play that the other team isn't ready for. We've seen it time and time again, so you always have to be prepared and keep your stick on the ice because it's probably coming back to you."

Kari Lehtonen, acquired Feb. 9 from Atlanta, made 29 saves to win his third straight start. He is 4-2 with a 2.85 goals-against average in six starts with Dallas, alternating the last five with Marty Turco.

Turco, 0-3-2 with a 2.97 GAA in his last five starts, went 5-1-3 with a 2.28 GAA in his previous nine starts at Anaheim.

The Ducks are back home after winning the finale of a three-game trip 3-2 over Edmonton on Saturday. Corey Perry scored two power-play goals in a 1:35 span in the final period, and Curtis McElhinney made 34 saves in his first start since Jan. 17.

"It's tough to say but our chances have slimmed down (for the playoffs) and we know that," Perry said. "But there are a lot of guys that are working for jobs and we're coming in every night and working hard and continuing to push. That's our attitude. Never say no.

"It can be tough mentally but you have to go out there and play your game. It's not over until you've played all 82 games."

Ryan Getzlaf missed the game with a sore left ankle and is day to day. Getzlaf is second on the team behind Perry with 69 points.

Jonas Hiller could be back in net after allowing six goals in losing the first two games of the trip. Hiller has gone 13-3-1 with a 2.53 GAA in his last 18 home games, but lost both of his starts against Dallas this season with a 4.07 GAA.