The Ottawa Senators are hoping their strong performance at the end of 2024 will continue into the new year, while the Dallas Stars are aiming for a more consistent stretch of wins.
The Senators, who are currently holding the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, are looking to prevent the Stars from winning their third straight game on Thursday night.
Ottawa has been playing well, with 11 wins in their last 16 games, including a 9-3-1 record in December. They are coming off a 3-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday.
“We just have to keep building on what we’re doing right now,” said Ottawa forward Claude Giroux, who has two goals and four assists in the last seven games. “We’re not forcing anything, not playing high-risk hockey. We’re just trying to find ways to win games.”
Ottawa has been performing well on the road this season, with a record of 9-9-1. They have already won four of their first six games on their current nine-game road trip.
“We have a group that really cares about one another,” said Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic. “It’s all been nice and it’s been great, but for us, it’s about moving forward.”
Ottawa’s next challenge is against the Stars, who have been inconsistent this season. Their longest winning streak was four games at the start of the season, but Dallas is currently on a 3-0-1 run, coming off a 4-2 win over Buffalo on Tuesday.
Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists in the victory, while Wyatt Johnston’s third-period goal broke a 2-2 tie and helped Dallas improve to 14-5-1 at home.
“We just kept pushing and pushing,” said Robertson, who has five points in the last two games. He finished December with three goals and eight assists in eight games.
Dallas’ Casey DeSmith made 21 saves on Tuesday, allowing only five goals in his last three starts. However, Jake Oettinger could return to the net, having stopped 24 of 25 shots in a win against Chicago last Friday.
Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark, who had a strong December, remains out with a back injury he suffered on Dec. 22. Leevi Merilainen made 30 saves in the win over Minnesota and is now 2-1-0 this season. Veteran Anton Forsberg could return from a lower-body injury, and Mads Sogaard has also been an option in goal.
Ottawa might also get key defenseman Artem Zub back from a foot injury that has kept him sidelined since Nov. 23.
Johnston, meanwhile, has been in strong form for the Stars, scoring in three straight games and recording eight points in their last seven games.
