8:30 PM ET, November 21, 2011
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.
Oilers-Stars Preview
STATS LLC
The Dallas Stars ownership mess is getting straightened out, but now the product on the ice is in disarray.
The Edomonton Oilers finally got everything in order in their last game.
The Stars will introduce Tom Gaglardi as their new owner and look to snap a five-game skid Monday night when they host an Oilers team brimming with confidence following its best offensive performance in 15 years.
Since former owner Tom Hicks' group defaulted on $525 million in loans in 2009, the NHL and creditors have been running the Stars. That changed Friday when a Delaware bankruptcy court approved the sale to Gaglardi.
Earlier in the week, the NHL board of governors unanimously approved the purchase by the Vancouver businessman.
"I know the fans and the organization are relieved that this period of uncertainty is over," said Gaglardi, who will drop the ceremonial first puck Monday. "The team has established a solid foundation, and I am looking forward to working with (new team president and CEO) Jim Lites and (general manager) who I have always admired and think is doing a superb job, to re-ignite fan enthusiasm for this club."
First-year coach Glen Gulutzan needs to light a fire under the Stars (11-8-0), who have scored four goals since leading the NHL in wins with their 11-3-0 start.
Coming off its first back-to-back shutout losses since 1999, Dallas snapped a scoreless streak of 194 minutes, 11 seconds with third-period score in Saturday's 4-1 loss to San Jose.
"We're in a hole, there's no question about it, and you can't just jump out of a hole this deep, you have to kind of dig your way up and dig your way out and I thought we were moving in that direction," said Gulutzan, whose team is trying to avoid losing six straight in regulation for the first time since Dec. 5-15, 1995.
The Stars' last six-game skid was an 0-3-3 stretch March 19-April 2. They'll try to get back on track with a fourth straight home win over the Oilers.
Edmonton (10-7-2), though, opens its four-game trip after snapping a season-high four-game skid Saturday with a 9-2 victory over Chicago. Rookie set up five goals, doubled his season goal total and ended a nine-game goalless drought with his second career hat trick and had a goal and three assists.
It was the first time the Oilers had three players with four points since Jan. 30, 1991.
"It definitely gives us confidence," said Hall, who had just one assist as Edmonton dropped three of four to Dallas last season.
Oilers veteran was in net for all of those games, posting a 2.54 goals-against average. He turned aside 24 shots in a 4-1 victory Feb. 15 that snapped Dallas' five-game winning streak in this matchup.
who is 0-3-0 with a 3.71 GAA in his last three starts, has stopped 98 of 104 shots while winning all three home starts versus Edmonton since joining the Stars in 2009.
Dallas is 8-0-1 at home in this matchup since a 2-0 defeat Dec. 8, 2006.
