Winning by Addition
Hours after Mike Ribeiro signed a new contract, he helped the Dallas Stars snap their longest losing streak of the season their last time out.
The team’s top scorer hopes to help the Stars finally beat the struggling Chicago Blackhawks in 2007-08 when they meet on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Dallas –141 money line favorites (NHL Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 5 goals (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 81% of bets for this game have been placed on Dallas -141 (View NHL Bet Percentages).
Ribeiro had two assists in Dallas’ 3-1 home victory over Minnesota on Monday to snap a four-game skid. Earlier in the day, the eighth-year center in his second season with Dallas (24-16-4) signed a five-year contract worth $25 million.
"I’m glad it’s behind me so I can focus on hockey,” said Ribeiro, who has a career-high 21 goals with 25 assists. "I’ve made a home here and there was no doubt I wanted to stay.”
Ribeiro, who led Dallas with 59 points in 2006-07, has a goal and two assists in the Stars’ two losses to Chicago this season. He had one of each in a 5-4 home loss to the Blackhawks on Oct. 31 in the teams’ most recent meeting.
As Ribeiro looks to put together another solid game, Dallas will try to avoid its fourth consecutive loss to Chicago (19-20-3) – which has dropped a season-high six in a row. The Stars, who will open a five-game road trip, have also lost three straight at in Chicago.
On Monday, though, Antti Miettinen scored two goals and Brenden Morrow had two assists for the Stars, who were outscored 14-4 during their losing streak.
"Having lost four in a row and going on a tough road trip, this was a must win,” said Morrow, who snapped a four-game scoreless streak. "We talked about keeping it simple and doing the things that made us successful.”
Marty Turco made 18 saves for his first win of 2008. Though he is 12-2-0 with a tie in his career versus Chicago, he was pulled after allowing three goals in the most recent loss to the Blackhawks.
Chicago fell 4-3 in overtime to Montreal on Tuesday and is 0-4-2 since winning four in a row. The Blackhawks have not lost seven consecutive games since last season when they lost 10 in a row from Jan. 4-26, 2007.
Jack Skille recorded his first NHL goal and added an assist, while Robert Lang and Kris Versteeg also scored for Chicago, which has been outscored 25-11 during its current skid.
"I’m just excited about it,” said Skille, who became the sixth Chicago rookie to score his first career goal this season. "I’m happy to get it off my back and I just hope my parents saw it.”
Lang, who snapped a five-game scoreless streak, has a goal and three assists versus Dallas this season. He had a goal and assist in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 overtime win over the Stars on Oct. 13 in the last meeting at the United Center.
Chicago’s Nikolai Khabibulin could be back in net Wednesday after Patrick Lalime stopped 30 shots against Montreal. Though Khabibulin has lost a season-high five in a row, has won three of his last four starts against Dallas.
by: Staff Writers – Email Us
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