Stars GameDay: Dallas reinforces defense at trade deadline
Stars at Predators
7 p.m. Tuesday, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
TV: FSSW Plus Radio: KTCK/1310 AM and 96.7 FM
Records: Stars 38-19-7, 83 points; Predators 31-21-11, 73
About the Stars: Dallas paid a big price at the trade deadline to improve its defense by acquiring Kris Russell from Calgary. Dallas sent defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock and a conditional 2016 second-round pick to the Flames. That pick becomes a first-rounder if the Stars advance to the Western Conference final and Russell dresses in 50 percent of the games in the first two rounds. Russell, 28, is an elite shot-blocker who has 174 in 51 games this season. The pending free agent has four goals and 11 assists. ... Dallas will be playing a back-to-back after Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Detroit at home. The Stars salvaged a point and moved into a tie with the Blackhawks atop the Central Division as each team has 18 games remaining. ... Dallas went 0-3 on its homestand and has lost five of their past six at American Airlines Center. ...
About the Predators: Center Filip Forsberg recorded his second hat trick in three games and goaltender Pekka Rinne notched his fourth shutout Saturday in Nashville’s 5-0 rout of St. Louis. ... Nashville has won four consecutive games and has at least one point in nine consecutive games (6-0-3). The Predators own the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. ... Nashville captain Shea Weber (lower body) has missed three consecutive games and is listed as day-to-day.
This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 11:04 PM with the headline "Stars GameDay: Dallas reinforces defense at trade deadline."