Arizona @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2018 ) Arizona 0, Dallas 3

The Dallas Stars have solidified their playoff position in the Western Conference with a strong run of defense and look to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games when the improving Arizona Coyotes pay a visit Monday night. The Stars are third in the Central Division and own a six-point cushion for a playoff spot after allowing just four goals while winning the last four, following Saturday’s 3-1 triumph at Nashville.

“Absolutely, it gains confidence,” Dallas defenseman John Klingberg told reporters. “We’re still building something here. Defensively, again, I think we’re doing a good job, and obviously the goalies are playing really good as well.” The Stars go after their ninth straight victory against the Coyotes, who are just three points out of the second wild-card spot in the West after a 3-2 overtime loss at San Jose on Saturday made them 6-2-3 over the last 11 contests. Arizona, which was playing for the first time since Jan. 23, went 0-for-5 on the power play and scored the only goal in third period to earn a point against the Sharks. “If guys were feeling a little rusty they were making up for it with work ethic,” Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper told reporters after improving to 6-0-3 in his last nine games with 32 saves. “One point is better than zero. It would have been nice to get the win; it didn’t happen tonight, but the effort was there.”

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona Plus, FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (23-23-5): Right wing Conor Garland notched his 10th goal Saturday to pull within one of the team lead despite playing just 24 games since being recalled for the first time in December. All-Star Clayton Keller shares the team lead in goals (11) with fellow forwards Christian Fischer and injured Brad Richardson (upper body) while topping Arizona in points with 35, but had seven shots without making the scoresheet Saturday. Captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson (26 points) returned Saturday from a knee injury that forced him to miss just one game due to the bye week.

ABOUT THE STARS (27-21-4): Tyler Seguin boasts four goals along with an assist and a plus-3 rating in the past four games to lead the team with 21 tallies and 48 points - six more than fellow forward Alexander Radulov. Captain Jamie Benn has been kept off the scoresheet in three straight games and the 29-year-old left wing remains one goal shy of reaching 20 for the ninth time in 10 seasons. Anton Khudobin turned aside 38 shots in Saturday’s victory and Ben Bishop (18-12-2, .925 save percentage) is expected back in net after winning his last three starts, allowing just three goals in the process.

OVERTIME

1. Arizona D Jakob Chychrun (lower body) missed Saturday’s game and is questionable for Monday’s contest.

2. Dallas D Esa Lindell recorded a goal and five assists in the last five games to push his season total to 23 points.

3. The Coyotes lead the NHL in penalty killing at 87.1 percent and boast 12 shorthanded tallies - second in the league.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Stars 2