The Chicago Blackhawks look to extend their lead in the Central Division and Western Conference standings whey they host the Dallas Stars on Thursday at United Center.
Chicago (47-20-6) has won all four games against Dallas this season.
The Hawks hold a six-point lead over Minnesota, who have a game in hand. The Hawks are riding a six-game point streak into the game against Dallas (29-33-10).
Johnny Oduya will face his former team for the first time since being re-acquired by the Blackhawks on Feb. 28 from Dallas, where he played the last year and a half.
Rookie Ryan Hartman is on a hot streak right now with three goals in as many games, including the overtime winner in Toronto and two against Vancouver. Hartman is two goals shy of becoming Chicago’s seventh 20-goal scorer this season.
Corey Crawford is coming off a rare off night after allowing four goals on 10 shots to Vancouver before he was pulled. Crawford is 29-15-3 with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
Tyler Seguin leads Dallas offensively in points (68), assists (44) and shots on goal (264). Seguin has separated himself from Jamie Benn has the Stars main offensive threat this season. Benn finished second in the league in points last season, but he’s struggled this season. He’s scoreless in his last six games.
Kari Lehtonen will likely start in net for Dallas after stopping all 30 shots he faced Monday night against San Jose for a shutout. Lehtonen is 18-22-6 with a 2.89 GAA and a .903 save percentage this season.
For more on the Stars, visit Defending Big D.
Lineups
Blackhawks
Forwards
Hayden-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Schmaltz-Kane
Hartman-Kruger-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kero-Jurco
Defensemen
Keith-Seabrook
Oduya-Hjalmarsson
Campbell-van Riemsdyk
Goalie
Crawford
Darling
Stars
Forwards
Benn-Eakin-Hemsky
Elie-Seguin-Ritchie
Shore-Faksa-Sharp
McKenzie-Cracknell-Hudler
Defensemen
Lindell-Klingberg
Hamhuis-Peteryn
Nemeth-Johns
Goalie
Lehtonen
Niemi
*Lines will be updated if necessary
How to watch Stars at Blackhawks
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
TV: CSN Chicago