The Stars are in the middle of a stretch of 14 games on the road in 19 games, so these home matches have been special. Dallas is 3-1-0 in its past four home games, but it has had some hiccups in forging a 12-5-3 record at AAC. Included in the loss column was a 5-4 defeat at the hands of a Sharks team who was struggling at the time.
Tyler Seguin said the Stars were surprised on Nov. 11, but that they know what to expect now.
"They work really hard," Seguin said. "They're quick, they compete hard, they have some big boys, they're feisty in the corners, so we definitely won't be surprised tonight."
Video: Seguin on what Jamie Benn\'s impact has been in Dallas
Seguin said he doesn't have a lot of memories of New Year's Eve games, but he said they have been fun. The Stars are 19-7-3 in franchise history when playing on New Year's Eve.
"I've got a lot of memories of our team gatherings and celebrating with teammates and family after. As far as the specific games, I feel like we've had success on New Year's Eve, and we want to keep it going," Seguin said.
Dallas is coming off one of its best games of the season in a 4-1 win at Minnesota. DeBoer said he likes how his team is responding right now.
"There's a maturity to our group and our game that I think allows us to get up to speed quickly and also to handle those environments on the road in tough buildings when you're taking on water and the ice is tilted against you for certain stretches, which it always is," DeBoer said. "I think we've handled those situations really well."
Video: Pete DeBoer addresses the media after morning skate
But he added that being 22-8-6 and in first place in the Western Conference is a relative accomplishment.
"It means nothing," DeBoer said. "I was in Vegas last year and we missed the playoffs, so it means nothing."
Key Numbers
53
Dallas leads the NHL in third period goals with 53. San Jose has given up the third most third period goals at 53.
4
Stars forward (and former Sharks captain) Joe Pavelski has 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in five games against San Jose.
61.1 percent
Among players with more than 400 faceoffs, Jamie Benn ranks fourth at 61.1 percent success rate.
He said it
"My personal self-reflection and what I have to improve in the New Year, I'll have to get back to you on that. My wife has a long list that she'll forward to you."
-Stars coach Pete DeBoer on what he has learned about himself in a year where he was fired by Vegas and rebounded well in Dallas.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Kiviranta-Seguin-Dellandrea
Benn-Johnston-Marchment
Olofsson-Faksa-Glendening
Heiskanen-Lundkvist
Lindell-Hakanpää
Suter-Miller
Oettinger
Wedgewood
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
