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Dallas Stars Bulletin Board: Bishop on IR, Stars head to the Sunshine state

By Avery Klatsky

SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 4: Brett Ritchie #25 of the Dallas Stars and Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers battle for possession of the puck during third period action at the BB&T Center on March 4, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. The Stars defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - MARCH 4: Brett Ritchie #25 of the Dallas Stars and Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers battle for possession of the puck during third period action at the BB&T Center on March 4, 2017 in Sunrise, Florida. The Stars defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 23: Anthony Bitetto #2 of the Nashville Predators skates the puck against the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center on December 23, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – DECEMBER 23: Anthony Bitetto #2 of the Nashville Predators skates the puck against the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center on December 23, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Upcoming Week Preview

The Stars will round out their three-game road trip this week, starting with the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Florida had high expectations after acquiring Mike Hoffman from the San Jose Sharks last June and having barely missed the playoffs, finishing with 96 points. Both the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils, who were the first and second wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference, had 97 points each.

However, the Panthers have been rounded out of the playoff frame at this point in the season. At 23-23-8, they’re third to last in the Atlantic Division with 54 points and are below .500 at home. They also sport a -21 goal differential, compared to the Stars’ +2. Although Dallas has had trouble finding success on the road (10-14-3), they’ll search for their first win against an Atlantic Division team since Dec. 29, when they beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-1.

After Tuesday night’s game, Dallas will play against the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa, who has 86 points (41-11-4), is led by Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Steven Stamkos, who have 84, 69, and 64 points, respectively.

Tampa’s scoring is not to be outdone by their special teams—their power play is first in the league, their penalty kill is second, and they also have allowed the fifth fewest goals in the league—which helps contribute to their astonishingly high +61 goal differential.

To round out the road trip, Dallas will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina to play the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina, who has 62 points, is 6-3-1 in their last ten games and strong at home with a 14-9-4 record in PNC Arena. Here’s how the Hurricanes’ team numbers stack up  among the league’s other teams:

  • Goals For: 162 (16th)
  • Goals Against: 161 (13th)
  • Power Play: 16.1% (26th)
  • Penalty Kill: 80.1% (15th)
  • Penalty Minutes: 428 (7th)

Here are the Stars’ team ranks:

  • Goals For: 142 (29th)
  • Goals Against: 140 (2nd)
  • Power Play: 20.8% (14th)
  • Penalty Kill: 82.8% (6th)
  • Penalty Minutes: 452 (9th)

Dallas and Carolina have yet to meet this season, and Saturdays night will be the first of two meetings in seven days between the two teams.

The Canes are fifth in the Metropolitan Division standings with 62 points, behind the Islanders, Capitals, Blue Jackets, and Penguins.

Carolina is one point away from entering a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

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