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Surging Ducks host Stars, take aim at sixth straight win

Nov 12, 2010 - 3:53 PM (Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks will try to stretch their winning streak to six straight games tonight when they play host to the Dallas Stars at the Honda Center.

The Ducks have won five straight for the first time since Jan. 5-13 and their current run includes four consecutive triumphs at home that has upped their mark at the Honda Center to 6-1-1.

Anaheim picked up a close victory on Wednesday, knocking off the New York Islanders, 1-0. In his fourth start of the season and 25th of his career, Curtis McElhinney made 27 saves for his first career shutout.

"It feels great," said McElhinney about the shutout. "The last couple of games I've played it was five goals each night. This was a nice turn of events. To come back after a big game in San Jose [Tuesday] night and be able to keep the winning streak alive felt good."

Saku Koivu got the lone goal off assists from Cam Fowler and Teemu Selanne. Koivu has four goals and two assists over a four-game point streak, while Selanne has notched two goals and eight points in his last six games.

Selanne has a point in 10 of his last 11 games versus the Stars, notching two goals and 10 assists in that span, and he scored in a 5-2 home victory in Dallas on Oct. 26 in the first meeting this season between the clubs. Bobby Ryan scored twice as the Ducks won for the third time in their last five versus the Stars.

Anaheim, which hasn't won six straight overall since Feb. 17-March 3, 2008, has won two straight and three of its last four at home against Dallas.

Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller made 35 saves to beat Dallas in October and is 3-2-1 with a 2.51 goals-against average versus the club. McElhinney is 2-1-0 with a 2.32 GAA.

Center Ryan Getzlaf did not practice on Thursday due to a sore left ankle that he injured on Tuesday. He should be able to go tonight, though.

The Stars have dropped two straight on the road since a three-game overall winning streak and were dealt a 3-1 setback in Los Angeles last night. Jamie Benn had the lone goal and Kari Lehtonen stopped 26 shots faced.

"These are two good teams. I mean it was a fun hockey game to play in," Stars forward Adam Burish said. "This game will make us better down the road, I'm confident of that. It almost had a playoff kind of feel to it, just the excitement in the building, and the energy."

Mike Ribeiro picked up his 14th assist of the season and has four goals and 10 assists in his last 14 games versus the Ducks.

Lehtonen is 1-3-0 with a 3.55 GAA in his career versus the Ducks, stopping 21- of-26 in the last meeting, while backup Andrew Raycroft is 4-1-0 when facing them with a 3.45 GAA.