Stars 3 - 2 Blue Jackets
Final
  for this game

Winless Blue Jackets host Stars

Oct 18, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Columbus Blue Jackets will once again try for their first victory of the season tonight, when they host the streaking Dallas Stars in the finale of a home-and-home series at Nationwide Arena.

The Blue Jackets have an 0-4-1 record through the first five games, giving Columbus the worst start in franchise history. Three of the club's losses have come on home ice, where the Blue Jackets are 0-2-1 so far.

Dallas, meanwhile, has had a surprisingly quick start out of the gate, posting a 4-1-0 record to begin the year. The Stars also enter this evening riding a three-game win streak, but Dallas is 0-1-0 as the visitor and is kicking off a four-game road trip tonight.

The Blue Jackets have scored two goals in every game this year and were dealt a 4-2 setback Saturday in Dallas. Veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray scored the game-winning goal 1:36 into the final period to help improve the Stars' home record to 4-0.

Brenden Morrow had a goal and an assist, while Loui Eriksson and Michael Ryder netted the other goals for Dallas. Mike Ribeiro chipped in three assists, while Kari Lehtonen stopped 13 of 15 shots.

Vinny Prospal and Alexandre Giroux tallied for Columbus.

"I had a pretty good chance and was able to put one in," Giroux said. "It's not as sweet when you lose, so we'll get back at it tomorrow and see what happens Tuesday."

Columbus goaltender Steve Mason continued to struggle, as he allowed four goals on 33 shots against the Stars. The 2008-09 Calder Trophy winner has started all five of his team's losses this year and is sporting a lofty 3.40 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.

Blue Jackets centerman Jeff Carter is expected to miss tonight's game after suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot on Saturday. Carter, who came over from Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade this summer, has no goals and three assists on the season.

Columbus is close to having another one of its big offseason additions on the ice, as defenseman James Wisniewski has three games left on a suspension that banned him for the first eight tests of the regular season. Wisniewski, who inked a six-year, $33 million deal with the Jackets this summer, received the suspension in the preseason for a hit to the head of Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck.

Wisniewski is eligible to make his Columbus debut next Tuesday against Detroit.

The Stars have won two straight and three of the last four meetings overall against Columbus. Dallas has also claimed five out of eight in Ohio.






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