Dallas brings a five-point standings edge into a matchup with Columbus, but both teams are looking to rebound from a loss.
Dallas welcomes Columbus to American Airlines Center with a five-point standings edge, 15 points to 10, and a No. 8-to-No. 28 power-index gap. The Stars are 3-2 over their last five but have dropped two straight; Columbus is 2-3 in that span and coming off a 3-2 loss at Carolina. Mikko Rantanen leads Dallas with 16 points in 13 games, while Kent Johnson tops Columbus with 10 in 11. The key test is whether Columbus can blunt Dallas’ +4.2 shots-on-goal differential per game: the Blue Jackets are at -2.4, and Dallas also holds the better team save percentage, .908 to .887.