Philadelphia @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2019 ) Dallas 1, Philadelphia 2

The Dallas Stars captured seven of eight points on their recent four-game road trip to move within an eyelash of securing a postseason berth. Needing just one point to reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, the Stars look to punch their ticket in front of their own fans on Tuesday when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.

Dallas scored twice in the third period before being done in after an eight-round shootout in Vancouver on Saturday, and the club's postseason plans were put on hold after Arizona skated to a 4-0 win over Minnesota the following day. "Our goal is to make the playoffs so we are one point away from it, so we shouldn't wait for anybody," said Alexander Radulov, who has scored a goal in three straight to extend his point streak to a season high-tying five games. Philadelphia ran out of steam as it traveled an uphill path for the better part of two months before the wheels came off with seven losses in its last 10 games. "We have all the pieces, but we need to stick together and play as a team, and I don't think we're doing that right now." Flyers defenseman Robert Hagg told Philly.com after Sunday's listless 3-0 setback to the New York Rangers.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southwest (Dallas)

ABOUT THE FLYERS (37-34-8): Cam Talbot will have another chance to audition as celebrated rookie goaltender Carter Hart's backup for next season when he mans the crease on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Talbot and Brian Elliott, 34, both can become unrestricted free agents on July 1 and boast similar career numbers, although Philadelphia reportedly is leaning toward the former because he is younger and has served as a mentor to Hart. Talbot was rusty on Saturday while making just his second start since being acquired by the Flyers, turning aside 27 of 30 shots in a 5-2 setback in Carolina.

ABOUT THE STARS (41-31-7): Radulov has answered the bell since being made a healthy scratch on March 5, recording 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in his last 13 contests while gaining the approval of coach Jim Montgomery. "Rads has been playing great hockey for the last three weeks now," Montgomery said of the 32-year-old Russian. "You can tell just by the way he's talking on the bench, he wants to make the playoffs. And you're seeing that permeate throughout our team." Radulov's goal-scoring surge has put him even for second-best on the team with captain Jamie Benn, who scored in a 2-1 setback to Philadelphia on Jan. 10 but has just two of his 27 tallies in the last 12 games.

OVERTIME

1. Dallas C Tyler Seguin, who leads the club in goals (31), assists (44) and points (75), had 15 points in his previous 11 games before being held off the scoresheet on Saturday.

2. Philadelphia wraps up its season against three teams that are coached by former Flyers players: Dallas (Montgomery), St. Louis (Craig Berube) and Carolina (Rod Brind'Amour).

3. Stars G Anton Khudobin fell to 4-3-1 in his career against Philadelphia despite turning aside 20 of 22 shots in the first meeting.

PREDICTION: Stars 5, Flyers 1