Game Preview: Sharks At Stars

By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Senior Writer

(AP) -- Though the Stars have played well of late, a visit to Dallas might give the struggling San Jose Sharks a good opportunity to build some much-needed momentum heading into their outdoor game with a Pacific Division rival.

The Sharks can avoid a third consecutive defeat with a fourth straight victory over the surging Stars on Thursday night.

Before San Jose (29-22-8) can focus on Saturday's matchup with the Los Angeles Kings at Levi's Stadium, it must find a way to halt a 1-4-1 stretch. While coach Todd McLellan doesn't believe the hype surrounding the outdoor game has been a distraction, the Sharks' recent play has left the club frustrated.

"We have the skill, the ability, the tools to be a consistent team, and we haven't been," McLellan told the NHL's official website prior to Tuesday's 5-1 loss at Nashville.

The Sharks' main concern remains in the defensive end, where they've yielded five goals in two straight games and five times while going 2-5-2 this month. San Jose opponents have gone 5 for 14 (35.7 percent) on the power play in the last six contests.

"It's a just a couple of breakdowns," forward Joe Pavelski said. "Right now, when we break down we haven't recovered."

Recording three goals on 78 shots over the last two games only increased the Sharks' frustration level.

"The bottom line is whether we finish (plays) or not you can't give up five goals," said Pavelski, who has six points in five games. "It's just the game. You can't do that, or you don't win."

The Sharks have totaled 16 goals during a 4-0-1 stretch against the Stars (27-22-8), who are four points back of them in the Western Conference. Though San Jose yielded seven goals in the last two meetings at Dallas, it ended an 0-2-1 series road slide with a 5-3 victory Nov. 8.

Dallas, however, has won four of five and allowed two or fewer goals in three of those contests.

Jamie Benn recorded his first career hat trick, Jason Spezza assisted on all three of Benn's goals and Kari Lehtonen stopped 27 shots in Tuesday's 4-1 win at St. Louis.

"That's big, that's what we need," said coach Lindy Ruff, whose team is 1-1-0 since losing leading scorer Tyler Seguin for at least three weeks with a knee injury

With Seguin down, the Stars need Benn to continue to pick up the offensive slack.

"I think I've said it before: I put pressure on myself to step my game up," said Benn, who has recorded six of his 22 goals in the last four games. "I do whatever it takes to help this team."

In the midst of a 6-1-1 stretch, Lehtonen has allowed one goal in two starts and has a .959 save percentage during a four-game winning streak. He's helped the Stars kill all nine penalties over the last four contests.

"Hopefully, I can keep it up," he told the Stars' official website.

Lehtonen, who did not face the Sharks earlier this season, is 0-1-2 in his last three starts in the series despite a .928 save percentage.

Benn had an assist against the Sharks in November but doesn't have a goal in his last seven meetings.

San Jose's Logan Couture had a six-game point streak end Tuesday, but he had three assists at Dallas in the first meeting.

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