• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Inconsistent Stars try to rebound vs. sliding Kings

Jan 17, 2009 - 11:27 AM Los Angeles (17-20-6) at Dallas (18-17-7) 2:00 p.m. EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars still cannot find the consistency they are seeking in a roller-coaster ride of a season.

The Stars look to bounce back from a dismal loss when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

After concluding a four-game road trip with a regulation loss to the Detroit Red Wings and a shootout setback against the Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas returned home on Monday and forged an inspiring, comeback, overtime victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Stars failed to build on that momentum, suffering a 5-4 shootout loss to Buffalo on Thursday after squandering a 3-0 lead by allowing the Sabres to rally for three goals in the third period and forge a tie.

"The 1-on-1 battles, we lost, and the consistency of our game did a complete 180," said Dallas left wing Steve Ott, who recorded a goal and an assist. "It's an embarrassment and a joke. We came to the first period and dominated. We knew the task at hand, and it slipped."

The Stars hope to avoid a similar fate against the Kings, who endured their third straight regulation loss during a 4-0 blanking by the Red Wings on Thursday.

Los Angeles's offense has struggled during the slide, managing only two goals, while the opposition has racked up 12 tallies.