Flyers-Stars Preview

Dallas has won in a variety of ways on its six-game point streak, though the latest method requiring a late goal after blowing a four-goal lead is one the NHL leader would rather not repeat.

Philadelphia visits Friday night, and the Stars' success against the Flyers lately has been far more stingy and structured.

In Tuesday's 6-5 home victory over Carolina, Dallas (21-5-2) led 4-0 after the first period and 5-1 after two, but the Hurricanes scored the next four before Patrick Sharp's winner with 19 seconds left in the third.

Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had a goal and three assists each, and Valeri Nichushkin and John Klingberg both added three points. Benn, tied with Seguin with a team-high 39 points, had gone his previous three games without a point.

The Stars, who lead the Central Division by eight points, can now post their first seven-game point streak since Dec. 17-31, 2013.

"We've had some funny games lately," Benn told the team's official website. "We were down 3-0 in Minnesota and came back. We were up 3-0 in Calgary and lost. We pretty much dominated Edmonton and lost. We didn't do much tonight and won a game, so I think in the end hockey evens itself out. Two points is two points."

They broke out of a 0-for-11 power-play funk by going 2 for 3, and even if it was canceled out by the Hurricanes posting the same mark, Seguin said some production was a relief. Philadelphia's penalty kill is just 6 for 10 in the last four games with a power-play goal allowed in each.

"Special teams is huge for us. We really focus on them," Seguin said. "We hadn't been getting too many consistent looks on the power play as of late throughout the games, but a lot of chances tonight and we're happy we could bear down."

Kari Lehtonen faced Carolina and allowed five goals on 30 shots before being replaced late, so Antti Niemi figures to start. Since allowing at least three goals in six straight games, Niemi has gone 5-1-2 with a 2.22 goals-against average over his previous eight.

He also beat Philadelphia earlier this season to get to 3-1-0 with a 1.61 GAA and .947 save percentage in the regular season against the Flyers.

The Stars have consecutive 2-1 wins in the series, including in Philadelphia on Oct. 20 with usual suspects Seguin and Benn each scoring and assisting the other.

The Flyers (11-11-6) helped Dallas' division lead remain where it is with a 4-2 win in St. Louis on Thursday behind a goal and two assists from Claude Giroux. The center has scored in three of his last four games with four assists, but coach Dave Hakstol was highlighting the team effort.

"What I see tonight is we had good goaltending, we had a good four-line effort, all six defensemen did a good job," Hakstol said. "... It's a tough place to win and it's a good team win for us."

After Michal Neuvirth played against the Blues, Steve Mason should get the nod in net. Mason, however, was pulled from his latest start after allowing three goals on 10 shots and has surrendered seven on 44 shots faced in his last two. He's 2-5-0 with a 3.03 GAA in his last eight against the Stars.

Dallas will likely have Jason Demers back from a three-game absence because of an upper-body injury. The defenseman returned to practice Wednesday.