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Stars try to continue dominance of visiting 'Canes

Dec 10, 2010 - 4:25 PM (Sports Network) - After back-to-back road losses, the Dallas Stars return home to American Airlines Center to host a Carolina Hurricanes franchise it hasn't lost to in nine straight meetings as the host.

The Stars ripped off six straight victories before a shootout loss at Columbus on Monday followed two days later by a 5-3 setback in Chicago. James Neal and Loui Eriksson had a goal and an assist each and Brandon Segal also lit the lamp in defeat.

"I think the second period hurt us," Stars forward Adam Burish said. "We made it competitive at the end and I think we can feel good about that."

With Kari Lehtonen scratched with lower-body stiffness, Andrew Raycroft made the start and gave up four goals on 24 shots. Lehtonen is questionable again for tonight.

Not only have the Stars dominated the Hurricanes as of late in Dallas, posting eight wins and a tie since their last home loss in this series on Feb. 11, 1996, they are 8-0-1 in their last nine at American Airlines Center overall and 10-3-1 as the host this season.

Dallas recorded a 4-1 victory at Carolina on Nov. 29, their sixth victory in the last eight meetings. Neal scored twice and Lehtonen made 27 saves to improve to 5-11-1 with a 3.47 goals-against average versus the 'Canes.

Raycroft is 3-5-1 with a tie and 2.69 GAA versus them.

Hoping to put their struggles in Big D behind them, the Hurricanes at least come into this matchup fresh as they haven't played since Saturday's 5-2 setback in Nashville.

Joe Corvo and Jiri Tlusty tallied for the Hurricanes, who slid to their sixth loss in eight games. Cam Ward was tagged with the loss after yielding four goals on 38 shots.

Carolina dropped the opener of a five-game road trip and has lost six of its last seven as the guest to fall to 5-7-2 on the road this season.

Ward stopped 29-of-33 shots in the earlier loss to the Stars, falling to 2-2-0 with a 3.52 GAA against them.