The Bruins will try to extend their win streak to seven games on Tuesday in Dallas when they take on the Stars as the players’ siblings trip continues on for the last stop.
The Stars are widely recognized as one of the top teams in the league, but they’ve been skidding lately, losers of their last three games and just 2-6-2 in their last 10 games.
In net, it will be a matchup of Team USA goalies in Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger. The Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck is considered by some as the incumbent coming off last February’s 4 Nation’s tournament, but playing time should still be up for grabs. Swayman goes into the game at 19-11-2 with a .906 save percentage and 2.77 GAA, Oettinger is 17-10-4 with a .902 save percentage and Hellebuyck is 12-13-5 with a .902 save percentage and 2.71 GAA. Swayman also back-stopped the US to the gold medal in last spring’s World Championships.
Both Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo have been at the forefront of B’s recent resurgence which has seen them go 8-1-1 in their last 10 games but it’s been more than the goalies.
“The game without the puck and not going away from our game,” Marco Sturm told reporters in Dallas when asked for the reason for recent success. “In the past, we had some stretches where we didn’t play the way we wanted. But those are the two areas we do extremely well and hopefully we can continue that here in Dallas, because it’s a pretty good team over there. We need a full 60 minutes tonight.”
Sturm believes his players are feeling proficient in the man/zone hybrid system he introduced at the start of the season.
“I give my guys a lot fo credit. I think they feel very comfortable now playing that style of hockey and it also shows us how to win hockey games, too. It’s part of the process,” said Sturm.
There is such a thing as being too comfortable, of course.
“That’s always the tricky part,” said Sturm. “But again, we try to stay focused here. Even with the siblings around, I thought they did a good job. They were very excited in Chicago and we didn’t get away from our game. It was a really good first period, that would give me hope.”
Sturm said that Andrew Peeke, who suffered a lower body injury against Seattle last Thursday and missed Saturday’s game in Chicago, will be a game-time decision. Meanwhile, Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said there is an illness running through his dressing room and there will be some game-time decisions on his side as well.
Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
