Dallas @ Vancouver preview
Rogers Arena
Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2023 ) Vancouver 3, Dallas 1
The high-flying Dallas Stars haven't skipped a beat from last season as they get set on Saturday to visit the equally-hot Vancouver Canucks, who are making an early case for the NHL's best Canadian team.
The Stars are one of a handful of preseason favorites to challenge for the Stanley Cup, while Vancouver is raising eyebrows for its ability to win consistently on the road. Both teams have 15 points.
Dallas is looking for its fourth straight win as they wrap up a three-game western Canada swing that saw them post victories in Calgary and Edmonton.
Consistency and confidence are the key words as the Stars try to repeat their success of last season, which saw them reach Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against eventual Stanley Cup winner Vegas.
On Thursday, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski each had three points, and Scott Wedgewood made 23 of his career-high 46 saves in the third period as the Stars held on for a 4-3 win over the Oilers.
"Credit to us, we kept them off the board late when we needed it on a back-to-back. (Doing that) against two hard teams is a big bonus for us," Wedgewood said.
Hintz scored twice and assisted on a goal by Pavelski, who had two assists as the Stars improved to 7-1-1.
Sam Gagner posted two third-period goals to make it a one-goal game. The Oilers owned a 25-9 shot advantage in the third, but Wedgewood proved stout down the stretch as the Oilers lost in regulation for the sixth time in nine games.
Dallas boasts a solid collection of returning veterans which only got better with the addition of free agent Matt Duchene.
This may be the final go around for graybeards like Pavelski, Ryan Suter, Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.
The 34-year-old Benn has dialed back the clock in his 15th NHL season. He is picking up where he left off last season when he finished with 78 points. He has nine points in his first nine games.
The Canucks have won five of the last six as Saturday's contest brings them back to Rogers Arena after they played six of their first 10 games on the road.
Vancouver is off to their best start since the 2005-06 season and forward Elias Pettersson is second in league scoring with 19 points.
In their most recent game, defenseman Quinn Hughes collected a goal and four assists and Brock Boeser and Anthony Beauvillier each scored twice as the Canucks clobbered the hapless San Jose Sharks 10-1 Thursday.
"Our depth has helped us this year," Hughes said. "We are going to need those guys to get some confidence, get hot, and carry it into our next games."
Pettersson collected three assists, and Hughes tied the franchise record for most points by a defenseman in a game, set by Jeff Brown on Feb. 20, 1995. Goaltender Thatcher Demko made 30 saves.
The Canucks stormed out of the blocks with a pair of power-play goals. They led 4-0 after one period and 8-0 heading into the third. Fabian Zetterlund spoiled Demko's shutout bid with a late power-play goal.
"The power play set the tone," Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. "It was nice to see some guys score who hadn't scored get their confidence. Maybe it will loosen them up."
--Field Level Media