NHL

Stargazing: Stars Host Predators Saturday

The following is a news release published by the Dallas Stars, Dec. 22, 2017.

TO CATCH A PREDATOR
The Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at American Airlines Center. The Stars and Predators meet for the third of four games during the 2017-18 campaign and the second and final time this season in the Lone Star State. The club holds a 0-2-0 record this season against Nashville, with a 0-1-0 record on home ice against the Predators. In the most recent game of the season series, Nashville snapped the Stars' five-game home winning streak and defeated Dallas, 5-2, on Dec. 5 at American Airlines Center. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak led all Stars skaters with two points (1-1=2) and defenseman Stephen Johns lit the lamp (1-0=1) for his third goal of the season. The two clubs met for the first game of 2017-18 on Oct. 12 at Bridgestone Arena, with the Predators notching a 4-1 victory. Captain Jamie Benn registered the lone goal (1-0=1) for Dallas with forward Jason Spezza (0-1=1) and defenseman John Klingberg (0-1=1) adding the assists. In two games this season against the Predators, Benn leads all active Stars players with two points (1-1=2) and 11 shots on goal. On special teams against Nashville this season, the Stars are 1-for-3 (33%) on the power play and 3-of-6 (50%) on the penalty kill. 

HITCHCOCK BECOMES THIRD NHL HEAD COACH TO REACH 800 WINS
Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock recorded his 800th NHL coaching victory on Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. Hitchcock joins Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins) and Joel Quenneville (868) as the only coaches in the history of the NHL to win 800 games. Earlier this season, he moved into third place on the NHL all-time coaching wins list with a victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 14, passing Al Arbour (782 wins). The native of Edmonton, Alta. holds an 800-488-202 in 1,490 regular-season games over 21 NHL seasons. Hitchcock has amassed a 296-168-75 record in 539 regular-season games over his two stints as head coach of the Dallas Stars, ranking first in franchise history in games coached (539), wins (296) and points percentage (.619). He has also accumulated wins as a head coach with St. Louis (248 wins), Philadelphia (131 wins) and Columbus (125 wins). Over his career, the bench boss guided his teams to eight division titles (1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2011-12 and 2014-15) and two Presidents Trophies (1997-98 and 1998-99). Hitchcock was also named the Jack Adams Award winner in 2011-12. He led Dallas to two trips to the Stanley Cup Final and led the Stars to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Captain Jamie Benn recorded a goal (1-0=1) vs. Chicago on Thursday and now has goals in two consecutive games (2-0=2) with 10 points (4-6=10) over his last 11 games. Benn is riding a five-game point streak (3-2=5) at American Airlines Center and has nine points (5-4=9) over his last 10 games on home ice. The captain shares first on the Stars with 31 points (15-16=31) in 36 regular-season contests, ranking second in goals (15) and third in assists (16). Additionally, Benn shares first on the club with 10 power play points (5-5=10) this season and ranks second on the Stars in power play goals (5). On home ice this season, Benn ranks fourth on the team with 13 points (7-6=13) in 16 games and ranks second in home goals (7). The native of Victoria, B.C. has inked the scoresheet in five-straight games (3-5=8) against the Predators and has registered 19 points (9-10=19) over his last 13 overall games against them. Benn paces all current Stars with 19 assists and 32 points (13-19=32) in a team-high 35 career games against Nashville.

BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT
Stars goaltender Ben Bishop stopped all 24 shots he faced on Thursday night against the Blackhawks and now has recorded a victory in all three of his starts this season against Chicago (3-0-0). Bishop has now earned points in three-straight games (1-0-2) and in seven of his last nine overall games (5-2-2). In his first season with the Stars, the native of Denver, Colo. has registered a 14-9-2 record in 27 regular-season appearances with a 2.65 goals against average and .911 save percentage with three shutouts. Among League leaders, Bishop shares second in shutouts (3), 10th in games played (10) and 12th in wins (14). On home ice, the goaltender has points in seven of his last nine games (6-2-1) with two shutouts over that span. In 15 appearances at American Airlines Center this season, the netminder has earned a 10-3-1 record. He has registered a 2.03 GAA and a .930 SV% with two shutouts. Among NHL goaltenders at home, he shares second in shutouts (2), sixth in wins (10), 13th in GAA (2.03) and 16th in SV% (.930). Over his NHL career against the Predators, Bishop has earned a 1-5-1 record with a 3.75 GAA and a .876 SV%.

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