Stars-Maple Leafs Preview

Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs
Tuesday, February 7
6:30 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Southwest Plus
Radio: The Ticket 1310 AM/96.7 FM
About the Stars
The Stars (21-22-10) ended a six-game homestand with a 5-3 loss to Chicago on Saturday. The Stars rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the third period, but Chicago tied the game 35 seconds after the Stars went ahead and then scored the game-winner just under six minutes later.
"I thought we played some good hockey and got ourselves back in this one," said Stars captain Jamie Benn. "It was maybe half a period, and we have to find a way to lock it down. We gave their big guys chances, and they took advantage."
The Stars went 2-2-2 on the six-game homestand.
Tuesday's game kicks off a stretch that will see the Stars play five of their next six games on the road, where they have lost six of their past nine games.
Injuries: C Jason Spezza (upper body), D Johnny Oduya (lower body), Jamie Oleksiak (hand), C/LW Mattias Janmark (knee) and RW Ales Hemsky (hip) are on injured reserve.

About the Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs (24-17-10) lost 6-5 in overtime to the New York Islanders in Brooklyn Monday night. William Nylander scored with 2:01 remaining in regulation to put the Islanders up 5-4 but Andrew Ladd scored 32 seconds later to tie the game and force overtime, where Brock Nelson won it at the 2:42 mark for New York.
"I think you're disappointed," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "It's always good to get a point on the road. If it was 2-1, I'd probably wouldn't feel like I do right now. When you give up six goals, especially some of the mistakes we made defensively … for me, to give up free ones, just tap-ins by our net, is not good enough. We've got to get that fixed in a hurry."
Five different players scored goals for Toronto Monday, all of them rookies. It was the first time five rookies had scored in the same game for Toronto in franchise history.
The loss was the fourth in the past five games for Toronto, which went 2-3-1 on a six-game road trip.
Tuesday's game begins a four-game homestand for the Maple Leafs who are playing their fifth game in eight days.
Injuries: None
Season Series
\This is the second and final meeting of the season between the Stars and Maple Leafs.
\The Stars won the first meeting, 6-3, in Dallas on Jan. 31.
Statistical Tidbits
\The Stars are 7-13-4 on the road.
\The Maple Leafs are 12-8-3 at home.
\The Stars are 5-8-4 vs. the Eastern Conference including 3-3-1 against the Atlantic Division.
\The Stars are 3-1-1 in their past five games vs. the East.
\The Maple Leafs are 7-8-5 vs. the Western Conference including 2-5-2 vs. the Central Division.
\The Stars have scored on the power play in five of the past six games.
\Toronto leads the NHL in home power play percentage (29.1).
\The Stars rank 30th in road penalty kill percentage (68.1).
\Toronto has allowed 22 goals in its past four games.
\Stars captain Jamie Benn is on a six-game points streak (five goals, three assists).
*Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner is on a four-game points streak (three goals, three assists).
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow Mark on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.