Preview - Flames vs. Stars

STARS (4-6-3) VS. FLAMES (5-8-1)
BROADCAST INFO: 7:00 PM MT; Sportsnet Flames (TV), Sportsnet 960 The FAN (radio)
SEASON SERIES: Thursday's game is the first match-up between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars in the 2016-17 season. The two clubs will face off three times in this year's season series. Last year, the Flames held a 2-1-0 record against the Stars, getting one win at the Scotiabank Saddledome and the other at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Johnny Gaudreau and Dougie Hamilton scored the goal-winning goals for the Flames in last year's season series while Sean Monahan led Calgary in scoring against Dallas in 2015-16 with one goal and three points in three games.

STARS SEASON SCOPE:With a 4-6-3 record and 11 points in 13 games, the Stars currently sit sixth in the Central Division. They are coming off an 8-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Patrick Eaves and Tyler Seguin scored the Stars' goals while goaltenders Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen combined for 23 saves on 31 shots in the setback. Seguin leads Dallas in scoring with seven goals and 14 points through 13 games. Jamie Benn trails him with two goals and nine points in 13 skates. Niemi and Lehtonen have split the goaltending duties this year, with Niemi starting seven games and Lehtonen starting six. Niemi has posted a 3-2-1 record with a 3.65 GAA and a .892 save percentage. Lehtonen holds a 1-4-2 record with a 3.28 GAA and a .878 save percentage.
FLAMES SEASON SCOPE: The Flames are coming off back-to-back losses in California, dropping a 5-0 decision to the LA Kings on Saturday and falling 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Their 5-8-1 record gives them 11 points on the year and has them sitting sixth in the Pacific Division. After a day off on Monday, the Flames have spent plenty of practice time on shoring up their power play and penalty kill. Calgary's special teams play has plagued them this season, with the power play ranked 30th (8.3 percent) and the penalty kill sitting 29th (72.4 percent). "Those are the two areas we've got to get better at. We're sitting at the bottom of those special teams. I think if we're going to be successful in this league you need to be, at least one of them, top-10," Michael Frolik told CalgaryFlames.com on Wednesday.