DALLAS -- Tied for the longest active winning streak in the NHL with five straight victories, the Stars continue their three-game homestand Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The wave of momentum the Stars have been riding has been robust. In addition to their five-game winning streak, they've earned victories in seven of their past eight games (7-1-0) and have won six in a row at home.
What their stretch of success has done has propelled them into fourth place in the Central Division standings with an 11-7-2 record through 20 games. The Stars are one point behind the third-place Predators and three points behind the second-place Blues with two games in hand on both clubs.
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One of the main reasons why Dallas has been on a tear has been the dominance of Roope Hintz. The 25-year-old forward posted his first career hat trick on Tuesday against Carolina, the latest instance of damage he's inflicted on the opposition. Hintz is riding a career-long five-game point streak (seven goals, two assists) and has points in nine of his past 10 games (10 goals, four assists).
The Stars are also getting solid goaltending from Braden Holtby and Jake Oettinger. Making his 500th career appearance on Tuesday, Holtby turned aside 39 of 40 shots for his second win in as many starts. (He stopped 25 of 27 in Arizona on Saturday). Jake Oettinger is 4-0 with a league-best 1.26 goals-against average and .959 save percentage, with wins in each of his past three games.
This is the second and final meeting of the season between the Stars and Blues Jackets, and the lone date at American Airlines Center. Columbus skated to a 4-1 victory at Nationwide Arena on Oct. 25 in a game that saw Tyler Seguin score the lone goal for Dallas.
The Stars enter Thursday's game with wins in three of the past four meetings against the Blue Jackets (3-1-0) and have victories in three straight against them at home. Dallas' all-time mark vs. Columbus stands at 38-23-8, including a 19-12-2 mark on home ice.
Columbus is coming off a 6-0 loss in Nashville two nights ago and have dropped two in a row for just the second time this season. The Blue Jackets are without the services of Patrik Laine, who is currently on injured reserve with an oblique strain. The 23-year-old forward has played in only nine games this season (three goals, seven assists, 10 points) and hasn't suited up since Nov. 3 vs. Colorado.
Oliver Bjorkstrand paces the Jackets with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), while Boone Jenner leads the club in goals with 10. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has a 9-4-0 record, 2.61 GAA and .923 save percentage in 13 appearances this season.
Despite getting shutout on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets rank eighth in the NHL in goals per game (3.25) and fourth since Nov. 1 (3.58). They've scored three goals or more in 14 of their 20 games and have four-plus tallies in nine of them.
Great seats are still available for tonight's Stars game against Columbus. Get your tickets now!
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.
