The Dallas Stars (23-16-1) may be landlocked, but the Texan star has cooled as of late, the perfect Pacific Division rival for the Anaheim Ducks (12-22-6) to face trying to turn their season around. The Ducks have the second worst goal differential in the West, but they are on a two game winning streak. The Stars were 21-15-1 on December 31st and in first place, but slipped slightly allowing the red hot Sharks and improving Kings by in the last ten days.
Still, the Ducks sit 15 points behind fourth place Phoenix, so beatable is a bit relative. Their two recent wins were against teams with goal differentials just as bad (the Rangers at -34) and worse (Columbus at -38). This is the third meeting between Dallas and the Ducks, with the Stars taking the first two.
The key the Stars success and failure has been their defense. During their white hot 11-3 start, the Stars only allowed two goals three times. Since then, the Stars have allowed more than two goals 16 times. In their recent two game winning streak, the Stars have only allowed two goals and successfully killed all five penalties.
The Ducks have come alive for 11 goals in their last two games, but again that was against two of the worst defenses in the league. If the Stars' defense shows up, things don't look good for Anaheim. However, Corey Perry and Temu Selanne are seeing the net well right now, and perhaps those last two games were the confidence builder this team needed.