CHICAGO --On the cusp of a playoff spot, the Stars continue their three-game road trip Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Dallas is coming off one of its biggest wins of the season (a 4-1 victory Tuesday against Colorado) and has a 7-3-0 mark in its past 10 games.
What that's done has vaulted the Stars into postseason contention. They enter Friday's game one point behind the LA Kings for the second and final wild card but hold the eighth best point percentage in the Western Conference (.574). The Stars have won five in a row on the road after struggling mightily for most of the season.
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They're facing a Blackhawks team that lost 7-4 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on a snowy Thursday night in the Windy City. With an 18-25-7 record (43 points), the Blackhawks are also on the outside looking in. They've gone 3-6-1 in their previous 10 games and hold an 8-12-3 mark at United Center.
Alex DeBrincat scored his team-leading 29th goal of the season on Thursday and ranks fifth in the NHL in that category. If he finishes the season as the league's top scorer, the 24-year-old forward will become the first Chicago skater to secure the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. Only one Blackhawks player in the NHL's expansion era (since 1967-68) has concluded a season with the most goals among all skaters: Bobby Hull (1967-68 & 1968-69).
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to patrol the crease for the Hawks after rookie Arvid Soderblom got the start on Thursday. Fleury is in his 18th NHL season and his first with Chicago. The 37-year-old netminder has a 16-17-3 record, 2.88 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts in 36 appearances this season. In his career against the Stars, Fleury is 11-5-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .926 SV% in 16 meetings.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.
