Mon Jan 7 11:01:58 2008

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Fading Stars welcome Wild to town

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(Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars will try to stop a four-game losing streak tonight when they host the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center.

It marks Dallas' first four-game slide since March 1-8 of last season (0-2-2). The club hasn't dropped five straight since November 30-December 10, 2003. All five of those loses came in regulation.

The Stars have negated a four-game winning streak that proceeded this current season-long skid, and the club fell two points back of San Jose for first place in the Pacific Division after getting blanked by Detroit, 3-0, on Saturday.

Mike Smith had a solid game, stopping 20-of-22 shots for the Stars. Marty Turco will likely be back in net tonight for Dallas, and he is 10-4-1 with a 2.02 goals-against average in 18 games (17 starts) lifetime against the Wild.

However, in his last game against the Wild on Thursday, Turco was pulled just over 13 minutes into the game after allowing three goals on just four shots faced.

He was replaced by Smith, who made 14 stops on 17 shots faced in the loss.

Mike Modano leads all Stars players in points against the Wild with 24, with 17 of those assists. Stu Barnes has scored eight goals in his career against Minnesota.

After going 10-4-0 in December, Dallas has begun the new year with defeats in its first three games in January. The Stars have just four goals this month while allowing 13.

Saturday's defeat lowered the Stars' record to 12-7-2 at home. Following tonight's game, Dallas will hit the road for five straight, stopping in Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose.

Minnesota has lost two of three and began a four-game road trip with a 4-1 setback in Nashville on Saturday. Mark Parrish had the lone goal, and Josh Harding finished with 26 saves in the loss. Parrish, who scored in his third straight contest, has four goals and an assist over a five-game point streak.

Marian Gaborik was held scoreless after notching 11 goals over the previous 10 games. He leads the Wild with 21 goals and 39 points and had two goals and an assist in Minnesota's win at home against Dallas on Thursday.

Gaborik has 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 24 career games against the Stars, including four game-winning tallies.

Minnesota is 9-9-2 as the visiting club this year and will also play in Detroit and Chicago on its current swing.

The Wild and Stars have split two meetings this year, with each club winning on home ice. While Minnesota has won two of its last three against Dallas, the Stars have had longer success, winning seven of nine and 10 of their last 14 against the Wild.

Dallas has also dominated at home, winning seven straight as the host over Minnesota.