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Stars return home to battle Oilers

Jan 11, 2011 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - After matching their longest road winning streak in club history, the Dallas Stars will try to post a victory for the first time in six home games this evening as they welcome the struggling Edmonton Oilers to American Airlines Center.

The Stars are 0-3-2 in their last five as the host, falling to 12-6-4 in Big D this season, but have won a club record-tying seven straight as the road team following Sunday's 4-0 triumph in Minnesota. Dallas, though, begins a three- game homestand tonight.

Backup Andrew Raycroft, making his first start since Dec. 28, came up with 26 saves for his second shutout of the season and ninth of his career on Sunday, while Jamie Benn scored twice in the victory over the Wild. Trevor Daley and James Neal also scored and Brad Richards posted a pair of assists to give him a goal and six helpers over his last four games.

"We just played two tough games coming off a road trip but still got the start that we wanted," said Dallas head coach Marc Crawford, whose club has won three of its last four overall. "It was very good execution by our club in doing what you've got to do in order to win games like this."

Jamie Langenbrunner began his second tour of duty with the Stars after being acquired from New Jersey on Friday and will play for the first time at home since the trade tonight.

Loui Eriksson will look to remain hot this evening for the Stars, who lead the Pacific Division by five points over the Ducks. Eriksson has a goal and eight assists over a nine-game point streak as well as four goals and 18 points in his last 13 games.

Kari Lehtonen should get the call in net for the Stars and has split two meetings with the Oilers while allowing seven goals on 52 shots.

A visit from Edmonton could get Dallas back on track at home. The Oilers have lost six of seven and 22 of their past 27 trips to Dallas, with the Stars winning 10 of the last 14 meetings between the teams overall.

Edmonton doesn't come into this game with much momentum either. After halting a seven-game slide with a victory over the Islanders on Thursday, the Oilers dropped a 6-1 decision in Vancouver the following night in the opener of a five-game road trip.

Ales Hemsky had the lone goal and Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves for the Oilers, who have lost four straight on the road.

"After the first period we were in a good spot," said Edmonton forward Sam Gagner. "There were times we were playing well, but we have to play better offensively if we want to win games."

Khabibulin has faced the Stars just once since joining the Oilers, a 30-save victory on Oct. 6, 2009. He has won three straight starts against the club and is 6-2-0 with a 2.48 goals-against average in his last eight versus Dallas.