Calgary @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 27, 2019 ) Dallas 2, Calgary 1

The Dallas Stars hope their rough start is behind them as they try for their seventh straight victory over the visiting Calgary Flames on Thursday. Dallas lost its first three games before winning at Washington 4-3 in overtime Tuesday with Stars coach Jim Montgomery telling reporters: "It's funny how games work. That was our worst game of the year, and we got a result. It was good to get the result."

Dallas has gotten results from second-line center Roope Hintz, who has four goals in four games after recording nine in 58 contests as a rookie last season. Hintz, a second-round pick in 2015, is proving Montgomery right as the coach told reporters about the 6-3, 205-pound Finland native late in training camp: "He's a player that seems ready to attack the season." Calgary is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday with Matthew Tkachuk scoring twice, including the tying goal with 1:04 remaining. David Rittich has played all three games in goal this season for the Flames as he settles into his No. 1 role with a .924 save percentage.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360 (Calgary), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (1-1-1): Johnny Gaudreau, who recorded career highs with 36 goals and 99 points last season, is off to a fast start with two goals and four assists after helping Tkachuk score his late goal. Gaudreau's linemates - Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm - have combined for three goals and five points as the No. 1 unit owns half the club's 22 points. Mark Giordano, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, has a goal and an assist and is a team-best plus-4.

ABOUT THE STARS (1-3-0): Tyler Seguin, who centers Alexander Radulov and Jamie Benn on the top line, has scored in two straight games. Radulov scored his first of the season Tuesday, and like Seguin, finished with a goal and an assist. Ben Bishop (1-2-0, .902 save percentage) is expected in goal after stopping 29 shots versus Washington.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas has won by two or fewer goals in each game of its winning streak against the Flames, including one in overtime.

2. Calgary F Austin Czarnik hasn't played since a season-opening 5-3 loss at Colorado on Oct. 3, when he was boarded by Avalanche D Nikita Zadorov.

3. The Stars are 0-for-10 on the power play after finishing 11th in the league last season.

PREDICTION: Stars 3, Flames 2