Stars @ Hurricanes, Game 32: Lines, Notes, How to Watch

Dallas Stars @ Carolina Hurricanes

Saturday, Dec. 17: 6:00 PM CT

How to Watch: Bally Sports Southwest Extra

The Dallas Stars travel to North Carolina on Saturday for their first battle against the Carolina Hurricanes this season. 

Dallas is coming off yet another comeback victory. 

On Thursday, Dallas used two early third-period goals and rode an incredible 45-save performance from Jake Oettinger to defeat the Washington Capitals 2-1. It was just the second victory for the Stars this season when trailing after two periods (2-5-2). 

“I don’t think we played our best game through the first two periods,” Oettinger said. “Pete came in and got us going. To have a response like that from the guys and get a lead like that, we’re going to have to be able to hold leads like that all year.” 

Stars Notebook: Offense Gets Enough, Jake Oettinger Does the Rest 

‘Never out of it’ has been the theme for not only the Stars, but the entire NHL this season. It feels that every night, another team makes a multi-goal comeback. This, plus the full team buy-in within the Stars dressing room, has given the team a belief that they can win any style of game, despite the circumstances. 

On the flip side, Dallas has yet to lose a game when leading after two periods. Their 13-0-0 mark ranks among the best in the NHL and speaks volumes to the complete style of hockey they have played all season. In contrast, the Stars lost six times when leading after two periods last season. 

For the fourth straight game, the Stars will be going against a team from the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division. Dallas is 5-2-0 against the Metro this season. 

Read More: Stars Young Corps, Prospects Recognized in TSN's 'Core 4 Rankings'

Lineup Notes: Head Coach Pete DeBoer shuffled some lines in the third period on Thursday night. So it is possible that there are some changes tonight but the team did not run lines at morning skate.

Stars Projected Lines

• Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
• Mason Marchment – Tyler Seguin – Ty Dellandrea
• Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Denis Gurianov
• Joel Kiviranta – Radek Faksa – Luke Glendening  
• Miro Heiskanen – Nils Lundkvist
• Ryan Suter – Colin Miller
• Esa Lindell – Jani Hakanpaa
• Jake Oettinger
• Scott Wedgewood

Hurricanes Scouting Report

Carolina, like the other three opponents so far on this trip, is on a smoking hot streak. The Canes are 7-1-2 in their last 10 and have won three straight games. 

The Hurricanes are an excellent defensive club. They rank fourth in team defense, allowing only 75 goals in 29 games (2.41 per game). Dallas sits seventh (83 goals against, 2.58 per game). 

Where Carolina struggles, is on the offensive end. The Canes have scored only 82 goals all season (26th overall). Meanwhile, the Stars rank second to only the surprising Buffalo Sabres with 112 total goals. This is by far the Stars biggest advantage heading into this contest. 

Martin Necas leads the Canes with 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists), and the highly skilled Andrei Scvechnkiov leads the club with 16 goals. 

He Said It 

“Obviously, this is a huge road trip for us. You’ve got to do whatever you can to win on the road and find different ways to win every night,” Oettinger said.