Coyotes 1 - 2 Stars
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Stars return home to tangle with Coyotes

Oct 10, 2011 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars are back in Big D and look to get on the right track tonight in the opener of a three-game homestand versus the Phoenix Coyotes from American Airlines Center.

The Stars, who have a new head coach in Glen Gulutzan, are coming off a home- and-home set against the Chicago Blackhawks and won Friday's opener by a 2-1 score in the Lone Star State. However, Chicago returned the favor the next night in the Windy City with a 5-2 victory over Dallas.

Stars backup goaltender Andrew Raycroft made 26 saves on 30 shots and both Vernon Fiddler and Steve Ott recorded a goal in defeat.

"There's a lot of new things that we're learning every day," Raycroft said on Dallas' website. "But that's the key in this league, you don't let losses linger and you go out and adjust and get better the next game. This was Game 2 and the idea is to get better for Game 3 and we know we can."

Dallas starting netminder Kari Lehtonen stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced on Friday. Defensemen Nicklas Grossman (groin) and Adam Pardy (rib) are listed as day-to-day, while forward Jamie Benn is one point away from 100 in his career.

Phoenix hasn't lost two in a row to begin a season since 2005-06 and suffered a 6-3 loss at San Jose in its season opener on Saturday.

Shane Doan had two power-play goals and Oliver Ekman-Larsson lit the lamp with the man advantage for the Coyotes, who are in the midst of playing three straight games on the road to start the campaign and were outshot by a 52-29 advantage. Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith made 46 saves in the loss.

"It was embarrassing," Doan said postgame. "That's the way it is sometimes. It's tough. It's not the way you want to start."

Doan is two goals shy of 300 in his career and Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett is seven victories short of 100 with the club. Phoenix will close out its season-opening trek in Nashville on Thursday before returning to Jobing.com Arena for its home opener Saturday against Winnipeg.

Phoenix has won four of six meetings with Dallas each of the past three seasons, while the last four matchups have been decided by one goal.

The Stars are playing at home on Columbus Day for the first time in team history and forward Brenden Morrow has more points in his career against Phoenix than any other NHL opponent with 44.






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