Deadspin: Canadiens seek to finish perfect road trip against Stars in Dallas

Dallas looks to reset

Dallas had its five-game winning streak ended Tuesday, losing 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils. Coach Glen Gulutzan said the Stars did not give themselves a chance, then canceled Wednesday’s practice after four straight days on the ice.

The Stars still lead the NHL in goals allowed, giving up 2.0 per game. Their offense ranks 25th, averaging 2.67 goals per game after four straight seasons among the league’s top 10 scoring teams.

Mikko Rantanen leads Dallas with six goals and 14 points. Rantanen and Jason Robertson have eight assists apiece, while Rantanen, Robertson and Roope Hintz have combined for half of the team’s 32 goals through 11 games.

Montreal closes road swing

Thursday ends Montreal’s four-game road trip. The Canadiens have won three consecutive games and earned points in five straight, with a 4-0-1 record over that stretch. Jakub Dobes is set to return after Jacob Fowler started the previous three games. Dobes is 1-2-2 with a 4.47 goals-against average this season and has lost his last four starts. Against Dallas, he has a 1-1-0 record, a 3.61 average and an .870 save percentage.

Coach Martin St. Louis has said Montreal still has areas to improve, including its power play. The Canadiens rank fourth-worst at 11.4 percent, going 4-for-35, and have missed on their last 12 chances since Zachary Bolduc scored against Buffalo on Oct. 17.

Injuries challenge power play

Captain Nick Suzuki, Montreal’s leading scorer with 12 points in nine games, has an upper-body injury that could keep him out until the middle of next month. He shares the team assist lead with Lane Hutson, each with seven.

Forward Ivan Demidov has played only twice because of a lower-body injury. As a rookie last season, he recorded 13 of his 43 assists on the power play.

St. Louis said the unit’s issues involve the full group, not one player. He said the Canadiens could be more connected as they work to improve.

Stars bring strong penalty kill

Dallas ranks second in the league on the penalty kill at 92.9 percent, stopping 39 of 42 opportunities. The Stars have not allowed a power-play goal in their last 22 chances, a run dating to Oct. 14. Against Montreal, Oettinger has a 5-2-1 record, a 2.66 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.