The Dallas Stars continue a challenging four-game East Coast road trip as they face the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers are one of three teams in either first or second place in their division that the Stars will face during the trip, providing a playoff-like atmosphere as teams continue to fight toward the postseason.
“Post All-Star Break, everyone’s trying to dial in and get as many points as possible and also get their game ready for the postseason,” backup goalie Scott Wedgewood, who will start Tuesday’s game as the back half of back-to-back game days, told the media. “These games start to get tighter and tighter, and there’s not as many mistakes made. Chances, when we get them, we’ve got to capitalize.”
Dallas capitalized on many chances during Monday’s shootout loss to the Boston Bruins, taking multiple one-goal leads throughout the game, but ultimately could not come up with the game-winner. Yet, while the result wasn’t what they wanted, some players were encouraged by how the team played and believe it can translate to the rest of the road trip and the season’s tough homestretch.
“I think it was a really good game for us,” defenseman Miro Heiskanen said Tuesday. “We had a chance to win, but sometimes, it just goes that way. A little unlucky, but it was a really good game from us, and hopefully, we can play the same way tonight and get the win.”
“I think everything on this road trip is going to be tough to play against,” Heiskanen continued. “It’s a great test for us. I think if we can play the same way we did last night, we’re going to be fine.”
The Stars could see some changes in their starting lineup as Heiskanen returns after missing Monday’s game because of the birth of his first child, and injuries to others could pave the way for the club’s top-rated prospect, Logan Stankoven, to make his NHL debut.
The 20-year-old was recalled on Tuesday morning and has 57 points (24 goals and 33 assists) in 46 games during his first season of professional hockey in the AHL.
“For a young prospect, he’s done everything that you need to do to earn the opportunity,” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told the media on Tuesday. “He came to camp, had a good training camp, went to the American League, and he’s leading the league in scoring. He’s earned the opportunity to come up here. I think we all recognize what type of player he is and his skills. If he gets in the lineup, we’re going to try to put him in a spot where he can use those things to help us.”
The Stars (34-14-8) and Rangers (36-16-3) will drop the puck at 6 p.m. CT.
