Plagued by inconsistency of late, the Dallas Stars look to build their game when they host the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
The Stars are 5-5-2 in their past 12 contests and haven’t won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak Nov. 9-14.
“We’ve got a real even-keeled group this year,” forward Tyler Seguin said. “I know it’s cliche, but it’s been a great mix of guys and we know what we have in this locker room. That’s what makes it exciting. That’s what makes some of the losses we don’t think we should have hurt a bit more. It’s still about finding that balance.”
While the results have been up and down, the Stars find themselves well-positioned in the standings. They’re third in the Central Division, only three points back of first place with games in hand.
Dallas is coming off a 6-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings, capping off a stretch of six games in 10 days. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen had two goals and an assist in the game, marking the first time he had scored since Oct. 19 — his lone tally on the season until Monday.
Heiskanen has three goals and 19 points in 27 games after setting career highs across the board offensively last season. His 73 points (11 goals, 62 assists) were more than double his previous best of 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) set back in 2021-22.
“I think the underlying stats show that he should be scoring more and I’m glad he got a couple tonight because he is due, and he was wearing it,” coach Pete DeBoer said after the game Monday. “That is frustrating for him because he wants to contribute that way for us.”
The Senators arrive in Dallas also in search of consistency.
Ottawa, which sits last in the Eastern Conference, has lost three of its past four games and six of its past nine after a 4-2 setback against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. It has been outscored 26-11 in the losses during that stretch, each of which has been in regulation.
“We feel like we haven’t strung (wins) together but we’ve played some really good hockey as of late,” defenseman Travis Hamonic said. “It just seems like it’s gone up and down the last handful of games. … We have to turn around, we have to regroup. … There’s no feeling sorry for ourselves. We are confident in our ability and us as a team.”
The power play has been a struggle for the Senators, who have scored just twice on 20 opportunities over the past six games.
Although consistency has been an issue for the team as a whole, the same can’t be said for Drake Batherson on a personal level. The forward ranks third on the Senators with 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) and has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past seven games. He has earned points in 11 of the past 15 contests and hasn’t been held off the score sheet in consecutive outings since being held without a point in the first three games of the season.
–Field Level Media
