DallasStars.com’s Mike Heika offers a quick pre-game article setting up tonight’s game (and this week’s set of games) between the Stars and Red Wings (8:30 PM EST on FSD/FS SW/97.1 FM):
The shuffling of divisions this season is going to create some interesting matchups for the Stars, and an eight-game slate against the Detroit Red Wings might be the most intense for Dallas fans.
Once one of the team’s most hated rivals, the Red Wings have sort of faded into the backdrop with a move to the East in 2013 and only two meetings per year. But this really was a bitter rival back in the days of the Central Division, so seeing any red sweaters in the stands still has the ability to cause some tension at American Airlines Center.
The Stars are 5-2-0 in their past seven games against Detroit, and the Red Wings have been going through a bit of a rebuild, but coach Rick Bowness said he expects strong play from Detroit, which lost a 6-2 game to Chicago on Sunday.
“They were a much better team against Columbus than they were against Chicago,” said Bowness. “They’re a better team than they have been in the last couple of years, they’ve added some really good veterans, and if they play against us like they did against Columbus, this is going to be a very tough game.”
Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said his team is determined to get back on the right track.
“Of course there’s urgency. Regardless of how long the season is, nobody wants to get into a streak where you’re losing. Certainly, a shortened season has a bigger impact right away,” Blashill said. “Do we want to nip this in the bud? Absolutely. Is there urgency to do that? Absolutely. Do we face a really good opponent that’s played two great games so far? Yes. So we’ve got our hands full, for sure.”
