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Stars try to extend win streak in clash with Flames

Dec 23, 2010 - 4:37 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars will take aim at a fourth consecutive victory when they host the sliding Calgary Flames tonight at American Airlines Center.

The Stars won their third straight game on Tuesday night, beating visiting Montreal by a 5-2 score. Dallas, which leads the Pacific Division with 45 points, is also 11-2-2 in its last 15 contests. The Stars are also just one point behind Detroit for the Western Conference lead.

Dallas has also won five of six and 10 of its last 12 games on home ice. The Stars, who will close a three-game homestand Sunday against Phoenix, are 12-3-2 in Big D this season.

Loui Eriksson scored his 100th career goal and Stephane Robidas recorded three assists in the Stars' 5-2 victory over the Canadiens. Brad Richards, Jamie Benn, Adam Burish and Karlis Skrastins also found the back of the net for Dallas and Kari Lehtonen made 27 saves in the win.

"I thought our team really played a good skating game tonight. That's one of the quicker teams that we've seen this year," Dallas head coach Marc Crawford said.

The Flames, meanwhile, have lost three straight tilts following a two-game winning streak and Calgary is just two points ahead of Edmonton for last place in the Western Conference.

Calgary did not fare well against the Stars in 2009-10 as Dallas won three of the four encounters between the clubs. The Stars have taken five of eight overall in the series, but the Flames have four wins in their last six trips to the Lone Star State.

The Flames will also try to improve their road play tonight as Brent Sutter's club has lost five straight away from Calgary since a win in Minnesota on Dec. 3. Calgary has a poor 5-11-3 mark as the road team this season.

Calgary was dealt a 3-1 loss in Columbus on Tuesday, marking the third straight game that the Flames were held to one goal. Mathieu Garon made 29 saves to help the Blue Jackets end a four-game losing streak.

Olli Jokinen scored the lone tally for the Flames, while Henrik Karlsson turned away 34-of-37 shots in the loss.

Karlsson was making just his sixth start of the year in place of Calgary workhorse Miikka Kiprusoff, who is expected to resume his starting role tonight. Kiprusoff has a solid 2.34 GAA in 20 career starts against Dallas, but his record in those games is a sub-par 6-11-3.

Calgary winger Jarome Iginla had four goals and seven points in four games against the Stars last year, but he hasn't always fared well against the team that selected him in the first round of the 1995 draft. In 50 games against the Stars, Iginla has record 13 goals and 28 points, marking his lowest point total against any of the teams has faced 30 or more times.