Trocheck, Necas Make the Trip: Good news on the injury front for the Canes, who could have both Vincent Trocheck and Martin Necas back in the lineup in Dallas . Trocheck is "hopeful" for Thursday, according to head coach Rod Brind'Amour, while Necas, who practiced in a no-contact sweater on Wednesday, is more likely for the weekend. Trocheck missed Monday's game in Columbus with a lower-body concern - and the Canes had to skirt the cap by dressing only 11 forwards and six defensemen - while Necas has been out for the team's last two games with an upper-body injury he suffered in Chicago on Feb. 4. Winner Ginner, Chicken Dinner:Brock McGinn has tallied a goal in three straight games, matching a career-long streak set twice before. With Necas out of the lineup, McGinn has seen his role elevated, as he's skated on the top line alongisde Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. "He plays hard every night. He's very consistent in that. He's getting some bounces that he doesn't normally get," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said on Monday. "We're playing him with more opportunity in a different role right now. He's been really good."
The Opposition
Last five games: 1-1-3, 5 points At home: 4-0-2, 10 points CAR vs. DAL: 2-0-0 Leading scorer: Joe Pavelski, 15 points (7g, 8a) in 10 games The Stars are in the midst of a season-long, eight-game homestand, a stretch that began earlier this week with two straight 2-1 overtime losses to the Chicago Blackhawks. Dallas still hasn't lost in regulation in six games this season at home, where they've hosted limited capacity crowds of around 25 percent.
The Last Meeting
The Canes closed out the month of January with back-to-back wins over the Stars in Raleigh. After handing the Stars their first loss of the season in a 4-1 final on Saturday, Jan. 30, the Canes followed it up with a 4-3 shootout victory the next night, and they did so with a depleted lineup.
Hurricanes outlast Stars for 4-3 shootout victory
"We're very happy, not content, but very happy with the way we're playing. It's our identity we've wanted to build here for the last few years, and it shows. We didn't change our game with the guys out or in," said Jordan Staal, who recorded three points (1g, 2a) in the weekend series. "The boys, all throughout the lineup, did a great job of playing our game, being relentless, being hard on pucks and just finding ways to win games."
