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Sports

Stars try to keep goals coming vs. Blackhawks

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

(SportsNetwork.com) - Behind a red-hot offense, the Dallas Stars seek to win five in a row for the first time this season on Sunday night when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Stars are on their second four-game winning streak of the season and are coming off a 7-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. That victory came three days after a 6-0 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes and gave Dallas a win in eight of its past nine.

Vernon Fiddler led Saturday's charge with a pair of goals, one of those coming during a five-goal second period for the Stars. Brett Ritchie, Erik Cole and Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist each and defenseman Jamie Oleksiak had three helpers.

Dallas, which last won five in a row from April 5-13, 2013, has scored at least six goals in back-to-back games for the first time since March 16 and 19, 1997.

"I still don't think we're a group that is looking at a lot of the numbers," said Stars center Jason Spezza. "We're just focusing day to day on who the next opponent is."

Coincidentally, the 13-goal barrage has come in Ritchie's first two career NHL games. The 21-year-old has a goal in both games, becoming the first Stars skate to score in each of his first two games since Mike Modano in 1989-90.

Lehtonen is 5-7-3 with a 2.96 goals against average and .912 save percentage in his career versus the Blackhawks, but could get a rest tonight in favor of Anders Lindback.

However, Lindback is just 1-5-0 with a 4.28 GAA and .864 save percentage in six games (4 starts) this season, having not started since Nov. 29. He didn't get his first victory until last time out on Dec. 21, getting the win in relief.

He is 1-2-0 in three games versus Chicago with a 4.01 GAA and .872 save percentage.

Chicago returns home following a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in the 2015 Winter Classic on Thursday at Nationals Park. The Blackhawks were 12.9 seconds away from getting the game to overtime before the Caps' Troy Brouwer scored the deciding tally.

Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad scored for the Blackhawks, who were denied a third straight victory. Corey Crawford made 32 saves.

"It's a fun process, it was a great experience, I think that we could have left here with a point, we would have been a lot happier with the whole build- up and the whole thrill and experience," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "The fans were great. They're just a little happier than we are today."

Crawford is expected to start tonight and is 10-5-0 in his career when facing the Stars, posting a 2.33 GAA and .908 save percentage.

Chicago forward Kris Versteeg suffered a hand injury versus the Capitals that is expected to sideline him for about a month. Teuvo Teravainen, a 2012 first- round pick, was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League.

The Blackhawks have won four straight and 10 of their last 11 versus the Stars.