STARS (16-11-3) at DUCKS (16-11-5) 10 p.m. ET, PRIME, FS-SW+, NHL.TV
The Stars won 5-2 against the Ducks on Oct. 13 and 5-3 on Oct. 25, both in Dallas. The Stars are 4-1-1 since Nov. 27, allowing two goals or fewer in four of those games. The Ducks have won six of seven heading into the final game of a four-game homestand. Anaheim, which is 30th in the NHL in scoring at 2.44 goals a game, has 16 goals in its past four games.
Players to watch
Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has five points (one goal, four assists) in the past five games, moving him into the points lead among NHL rookie defenseman. The 19-year-old became the youngest defenseman to score in team history in the second win against the Ducks. Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf is one point from becoming the second player to score 900 points with the Ducks, joining Teemu Selanne. Getzlaf has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past six games.
They said it
"Our practice consistency, our work ethic and our focus has been way better as the season has progressed. We don't lay eggs anymore." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery "With six games until Christmas, we have to make sure we play as well as we can." -- Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano
Nichushkin, a healthy scratch the past two games, was on the top line during the morning skate. … Johnson was claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday after Miller was injured in a 6-5 shootout win against the visiting New Jersey Devils on Sunday. … Rakell was injured in a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 5 and is out indefinitely.
Stat pack
Benn has five points (three goals, two assists) in the past five games. ... Silfverberg has a goal in each of the past three games to match his NHL-high goal streak.
