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Kings-Stars Preview

Oct 28, 2010 - 4:55 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (6-2-0) at Dallas (5-3-0), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Dallas had little trouble finding ways to score while winning five of its first six games. That has not been the case for the Stars of late.

The Stars could be in for another challenge while trying to avoid a third straight loss Thursday night against the Los Angeles Kings, who will be looking for their fifth consecutive win in Dallas.

Dallas (5-3-0) flew out of the gate, scoring 22 regulation goals the first six games. The Stars, however, have been outscored 6-2 while losing their last two contests.

"The league will tighten up," forward Brad Richards told the Stars' official website. "When you get off to a 4-0 or 5-1 start, teams are going to realize what you're doing and they are going to bear down. We just have to stick with it and keep battling."

After recording 30 shots in a 1-0 loss against Nashville in the opener of a six-game homestand Saturday, Dallas totaled 37 shots in a 5-2 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday.

"We have to be more realistic. Just because we step onto the ice doesn't mean we're going to score goals," Richards said. "It takes more work than that. We're getting frustrated but you have to stay with it. It's mental toughness of the team."

The Stars continue to feel the frustration while going 3 for 30 on the power play. Loui Eriksson scored a first-period power-play goal against the Ducks - the Stars' lone goal in 19 opportunities with the man-advantage over the last five contests.

Facing the Kings (6-3-2) might not help start an offensive resurgence.

The Stars have been outscored 12-3 while going 0-2-2 at home against Los Angeles since a 3-2 shootout win over the Kings Jan. 17, 2009. Dallas is 1 for 17 on the power play during that skid.

Richards has two goals and five assists in his last five games against the Kings, but one assist in his last three at home versus Los Angeles.

Eriksson is tied for the team lead with five goals, but has only an assist in 11 home games against the Kings.

Kari Lehtonen, 5-3-0 with a 2.70 goals-against average, is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA versus Los Angeles.

The Kings' bid for a third straight victory ended with a 3-1 loss at Chicago on Wednesday. Los Angeles is 2-2-0 on a five-game trip.

Justin Williams has a point in three straight contests after scoring his third goal of the season. He has two goals and three assists in seven games at Dallas.

Jonathan Quick will be back in net after being rested Wednesday. Quick is 5-1-0 with a 1.95 GAA this season, and 6-3-0 with a 2.35 GAA against the Stars. He is 3-1-0 with a 1.64 GAA at Dallas, and will be looking for his fourth straight win there.

Los Angeles will be without star defenseman Drew Doughty for a fifth consecutive game because of a concussion.

"We'll let this thing heal properly and make sure that everything is good when he gets back in," coach Terry Murray told the Kings' official website. "As soon as he is feeling good and ready to go, we'll get him back in the lineup."