(SportsNetwork.com) - Devan Dubnyk and the Minnesota Wild hope to keep on rolling when they host the Dallas Stars in Sunday's Central Division clash at Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild are 12-2-2 since acquiring Dubnyk from Arizona last month and the surge has them just one point out of playoff spot in the Western Conference. The goaltender earned his latest victory with only 15 saves in Friday's 4-0 triumph in Edmonton. It marked Dubnyk's fifth shutout in just 16 games since joining Minnesota.
The 6-foot-6 goaltender is expected to make a 17th straight start in net tonight. He is just 2-6-1 with a 3.43 goals against average in nine career games against Dallas.
Justin Fontaine scored two goals in Friday's victory over the Oilers. Minnesota has won four of its last five tests and with 67 points is one behind Calgary and San Jose in the West standings. The Flames currently hold the tiebreaker for the second and final wild card berth due to having played two games less than the Sharks.
"There's a lot of work to be done, but we're pleased with our game," said Minnesota coach Mike Yeo.
The Wild are beginning a two-game homestand tonight and will close the residency with a rematch against Edmonton on Tuesday. Minnesota has won all five of its home tilts in February and is 16-7-5 as the host this season.
This evening's matchup marks the fifth and final regular season tilt between the Stars and Wild this season. Minnesota won the first three meetings before Dallas routed the visiting Wild, 7-1, on Jan. 3.
Minnesota has won four straight and six of its last seven home encounters against the Stars.
Dallas, meanwhile, trails the Wild by four points in the West standings and has lost two straight and three of its last four games.
The Stars earned a point Saturday against visiting Detroit, but the 7-6 overtime loss should leave the club with a bad taste in its mouth.
Dallas coughed up leads of 4-2 and 6-4 to allow the Red Wings to send the game to a overtime, where Niklas Kronwall provided the deciding marker just 36 seconds into the extra session.
"That's the game. I think when you get a second chance at a two-goal lead, you have to shut it down," said Stars forward Shawn Horcoff. "You have to be able to win those games and put them away, and obviously we weren't able to do it."
Trevor Daley, Shawn Horcoff and Erik Cole all supplied a goal and an assist for the Stars, with Cody Eakin, Jamie Benn and Curtis McKenzie adding markers. Kari Lehtonen allowed all seven goals on 36 shots for the Stars.
Jhonas Enroth could get the start in net tonight for Dallas, which begins a two-game road trip. The Stars are 15-11-2 as the visiting club this season.
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