Montreal Canadiens challenge Dallas Stars – NHL Previews
The slumping Dallas Stars are expected to face a tough time on the rink as they travel to play against Montreal Canadiens in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
With inconsistency being the major flaw, both these teams are struggling to reach the safe zone in their respective conferences.
Let’s have a look at how these teams are performing.
Stars
Dallas Stars have comparatively better chances of reaching the playoffs than Canadiens, but they are struggling badly and might even get pushed down in the ranking table.
After playing 59 games, Stars are placed at 10th spot in the Western Conference with 62 points. They are three points short of the eighth-ranked Calgary Flames.
Out of the last six games, Stars have lost five and are presently on a two-game losing streak with the recent defeat coming against Nashville Predators.
Stars were the first to score in the game, but Predators got three goals after that to take a strong lead. Stars reduced the lead to just one goal, but could not register more scoring moves and lost the game, 3-2.
Stars’ coach, Glen Gulutzan, said after the game:
"As hard as it is to swallow, you've got to keep doing things right. The moment you veer away and start losing confidence, you're in trouble. We're doing the little things right, we're not getting the result."
Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens have a slight edge over Stars not because they are a thundering unit, but because of two other reasons.
One is Stars’ poor form and the other is Montreal’s ability to get unexpected victories.
The Canadiens are placed at 13th spot in the Eastern Conference with 58 points after 60 games.
They played their last game against New Jersey Devils, who had a goal each in the first two periods.
Canadiens and Devils scored apiece in the final period as Devils secured the victory.
After the defeat, Montreal’s defenseman, Josh Gorges, said:
“We've been playing pretty good hockey, getting points in a lot of the recent games. Tonight, there's no excuse, though. We don't have the luxury -- and I've said this before -- of taking a night off, a period off or a shift off. We don't have that because
every game is maybe the difference of getting in or us going home early."
Predictions
Montreal could win.
The sum of goals scored by both the teams might stay under six.
In case of Stars’ victory, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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