(Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars will try to extend an eight-game point streak this evening with a third straight victory over the Los Angeles Kings as the two Pacific Division rivals get together today at American Airlines Center.
The Stars are 6-0-2 in their past eight games and sit four points back of the first-place Sharks in the division. Dallas is also fourth overall in the Western Conference with 82 points, one more than four other teams, including Los Angeles.
After a string of six straight one-goal games, the Stars cruised past the Wild, 4-0, on Friday. Jamie Benn scored in his sixth straight game, a career best and longest by a Dallas skater since December, 2005, while Kari Lehtonen made just 14 saves for his first shutout since March 3, 2009 and 15th of his career.
"We're not trying to do too much, not trying to be too fancy," said Lehtonen. "We got some guys playing good out there and seems like they can do whatever they like. It works and we're finding success."
Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist while Trevor Daley and Tom Wandell also scored for the Stars, who lost Adam Burish to a lower-body injury in the game. He is questionable for today.
Dallas is 1-0-1 on a seven-game homestand and has won two straight over Los Angeles after dropping the first two meetings this season. The Stars halted a five-game series home losing streak on Jan. 17, then posted a 4-3 win at Los Angeles on Monday on Brenden Morrow's goal 38 seconds into overtime.
Lehtonen is 4-2-0 with a 2.45 goals-against average versus the Kings, while Benn has four goals in 10 meetings with the club.
Los Angeles has still won seven of its last 10 versus Dallas and is 6-2-1 over its last nine games overall. The Kings earned their second victory in a row on Friday, a 4-2 triumph in Columbus that was sparked by Anze Kopitar's second career hat trick.
Kopitar has seven goals and seven assists in his past nine games and his first career hat trick came versus the Stars on Oct. 22, 2009. He has seven goals and 14 points in his last 11 versus Dallas.
"[Kopitar] had a very strong game to follow up a real good game at Detroit [on Wednesday]," LA head coach Terry Murray said. "I really like his strength with the puck, carrying the puck behind the net on the goal, under pressure gets it back on top and drives to the net looking for good things to happen."
Justin Williams scored a goal and had two assists, while Drew Doughty chipped in two helpers for the Kings. Jonathan Bernier turned aside 32-of-34 shots for the victors.
Murray will go back to Jonathan Quick tonight in net and he is 8-3-0 with a 2.18 GAA in his career versus Dallas.
The Kings have won the first two contests of a four-game road trip, as well as three straight and six of their past eight as the guest.