Pluses, minuses for Blackhawks-Stars

NHL Network and ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes will offer his thoughts for big games each week throughout the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, NBCSCH, SN NOW). Chicago (19-32-5) has won three straight and can tie its season high with four wins in a row (Oct. 15-25). Dallas (30-15-12) has lost four straight (0-2-2) by a combined score of 11-5.
Here's my breakdown of the game.

Blackhawks

Pluses: Patrick Kane had a hat trick in a 5-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday and has five goals in his past three games. Max Domi had four points (one goal, three assists) in that game and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past four games. Rookie goalie Jaxson Stauber is 4-1-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in five games this season and likely will start after Petr Mrazek made 34 saves in a 3-2 shootout win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. The Blackhawks may be out of the playoff race but is playing hard, as evidenced by their wins against the Maple Leafs and Golden Knights. They get to face another playoff team Wednesday in the Stars.

Minuses: It's been a rebuilding season for the Blackhawks, who are 30th in the NHL standings. Kane, Domi and others could be on the way out with the NHL Trade Deadline coming March 3. They are the top two scorers on a team that ranks 31st in goals per game (2.46). And captain Jonathan Toews is out indefinitely because of symptoms of long COVID. It's clear the Blackhawks will look a lot different after the deadline and heading into next season.

Stars

Pluses: Jake Oettinger (23-7-9, 2.20 goals-against average, .926 save percentage, four shutouts) is a Vezina Trophy candidate. The top line of Jason Robertson (71 points), Roope Hintz (50 points) and Joe Pavelski (50 points) continues to lead the way. But the resurgence of forward Jamie Benn has been the biggest surprise; his 47 points (22 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games are his most since he had 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 78 games in 2018-19. Forward Wyatt Johnston has had an impressive rookie season with 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 57 games. And I love the job Peter DeBoer has done in his first season as coach.

Minuses:Their four-game skid is their longest of the season and the Stars have two wins in their past nine (2-2-5). Dallas has not scored a power-play goal in its past six games (0-for-19). Forward Tyler Seguin has one point, an assist, in his past 10 games.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Does Patrick Kane continue his hot streak?
   2. Who steps up for Stars?
   3. Can Stars get the power play on track?