Vancouver @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2018 ) Dallas 2, Vancouver 1

The Dallas Stars’ critical five-game homestand got off to a disappointing start, but now they look to take advantage of a stretch of three games against teams outside playoff position beginning with a visit from the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. The Stars registered 41 shots on net Friday before suffering a 2-1 setback against red-hot Vegas and is three points clear, with a game in hand, in their quest for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

“It was a playoff-style game, but we’ve been going through that since the break,” Dallas coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after the loss. “It’s been getting more and more intense. We’re handling that part. The mental part has been impressive.” The Stars, who also play Florida, Colorado and Pittsburgh on the homestand before a four-game trip to Western Canada that includes a matchup in Vancouver, has won six of eight overall and knocked off the Canucks 2-1 on Dec. 1 in the first meeting this season. Vancouver lost nine of its last 12 contests (3-6-3) to fall out of contention for a wild-card spot in the West and coughed up a two-goal lead before suffering a 3-2 shootout loss to New Jersey on Friday. “We played a really good game the first two periods, then they came out and pushed and got two goals to tie it up,” Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom told reporters. “You want to close those games out. We have to keep building, get better as a team, and close games out.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Vancouver), FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (29-32-10): Center Elias Pettersson snapped an 11-game goal drought Friday and boasts team-high totals of 27 tallies along with 59 points - by far the most in both categories among this season’s rookie class. Center Bo Horvat recorded a goal and three assists during his three-game point streak while right wing Brock Boeser has made the scoresheet in five straight contests, totaling two goals and six points. Markstrom, who is 2-1-1 in his last four starts, has won a career-high 25 games and owns a .925 save percentage in 17 games since Feb. 1.

ABOUT THE STARS (37-29-5): Goalie Ben Bishop sat out Friday after suffering a lower-body injury in the previous game and Montgomery told reporters: “I think he’s being smart. He’s trying to make sure it doesn’t become a two-week thing.” Center Tyler Seguin is mired in a seven-game goal drought, but has five assists in the past five contests to push his team-leading total to 65 points. Right wing Alexander Radulov is second on the team with 56 points - including 10 in the past 10 games - and has registered five of his 22 goals in his past five outings.

OVERTIME

1. Vancouver LW Antoine Roussel recorded assists in each of the last two games to pull within one of 100 for his career.

2. Dallas’ rookie F Roope Hintz has scored four goals in his last three contests to push his season total to nine.

3. The Canucks are 4-of-40 on the power play the last 12 games while the Stars converted one of 15 tries the past six contests.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Canucks 2