Off The Draw: Struggling Stars looking to deal?; weekend games to watch

Off The Draw: Scouts are circling the struggling Dallas Stars, who may be looking for a trade; weekend games to watch, more NHL news and notes.

Hot Topic

Are the struggling Dallas Stars inclined to swing a deal to get their once-promising season back on track? There were 11 scouts, mostly from Eastern Conference teams, at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night to see the hosts bumble their way to a league-worst sixth loss in seven home games. Goalie Kari Lehtonen is struggling (he seems particularly vulnerable up high lately), but the Stars don't have anyone they trust to spell him. They could be looking for someone to replace current backup Anders Lindback. They could also use some help on the back end, but given the premium on defensemen, that seems unlikely. The most likely move? A relatively minor deal to shake up the forward corps. Dallas' physical game has fallen off significantly. Maybe someone like Montreal's Travis Moen might be a fit.

What to watch this weekend

FRIDAY

Capitals at Blackhawks (8:30 ET, NHLN-US, SNE, SNO, SNP, CSN-DC+, CSN-CH+)

Eye Test: Why Jack Johnson is the NHL's most overrated player

This Winter Classic preview finds the hosts banged up (no Patrick Sharp for the next month) and the visitors reeling from a five-game losing streak. To be fair, the Capitals haven't exactly been terrible during this rough patch. They've held the lead in the second period or later in each of those games and the #fancystats point to their 54% Corsi in close situations. Taken together you'd expect those situations to yield more than one point, but this is one of those cases where you throw out the numbers and rely on your eyes. Washington is falling into some nasty old habits of late, doing a lousy job of marking opposing shooters and coming up short way too many times in the hustle department. These are things that can be corrected, especially with Barry Trotz calling the shots, but the players have to be committed to working in all three zones, not just the fun one. Until that happens, shot quality will continue to trump whatever shot differential they drum up.

• Where to get advanced stats

REST OF THE SCHEDULE: Oilers at Sabres (7 p.m. EST; SNW, MSG-B, BELL TV); Blue Jackets at Hurricanes (7 p.m. EST; FS-O, FS-CR); Devils at Red Wings (7:30 p.m. EST; MSG+, FS-D); Coyotes at Ducks (10 p.m. EST; FS-A, PRIME)

SATURDAY

Penguins at Sabres (7 p.m. EST; FX-CA, ROOT, MSG-B)

Penguins had no choice but to sign Marc-Andre Fleury to extension

Not since a group of plucky American college kids took on the mighty Soviet empire ... OK, maybe this one doesn't stack up as a mismatch on quite the same epic scale, but it's going to take a miraculous effort for the Sabres to keep pace with the high-flying Penguins. The league's top-scoring team (four goals per game) gets to tee off on a club that allows an NHL-worst 36.3 shots per game, setting the stage for some epic offensive fireworks.

REST OF THE SCHEDULE:Flames at Panthers (3 p.m. EST; SNW, FS-F); Rangers at Maple Leafs (7 p.m. EST; CBC, MSG 2); Wild at Canadiens (7 p.m. EST; NHLN-US; TVA, CITY, FS-N+); Jets at Senators (7 p.m. EST; SN); Avalanche at Flyers (7 p.m. EST; ALT, CSN-PH); Lightning at Blue Jackets (7 p.m. EST; SUN, FS-O); Hurricanes at Capitals (8 p.m EST; FS-CR, CSN-DC+); Predators at Blues (8 p.m. EST; FS-TN, FS-MW); Sharks at Stars (8 p.m. EST; CSN-CA, FS-SW); Islanders at Coyotes (8 p.m. EST; MSG+, FS-A); Canucks at Kings (10 p.m. EST; CBC, TVA2, FS-W)

SUNDAY

Canucks at Ducks (9 p.m. EST; CITY, PRIME)

You know how I know when the Canucks win a game? My 10-year-old sticks his head in my office and "thanks" me for convincing him not to take Ryan Miller in his hockey pool. Apparently kids master sarcasm much earlier in life these days.

All Miller has done this season is win 10 of his first 11 games. On Thursday night, he became the first goalie to get to double-digit Ws when Vancouver knocked off San Jose behind his 34-save performance. It was the seventh straight game in which he's allowed two goals or fewer. Not coincidentally, it was his seventh straight win. But it was also one of his first big tests of the season. So this contest, the third in a Golden State swing and second of a murderous SoCal back-to-back, will reveal a lot about both Miller and the surprising Canucks. California clubs kicked sand in their face last season, winning seven of eight, but Vancouver is benefiting from a different state of mind now. Buoyed by Miller and former Duck Nick Bonino (who scored his team-leading seventh goal on Thursday), these Canucks are playing smarter, faster and more buttoned up than they have in years. This isn't so much one they need, but it's definitely one they want.

REST OF THE SCHEDULE: Maple Leafs at Senators (6 p.m. EST; NHLN-US, TVA, CITY); Lightning at Red Wings (6 p.m. EST; SUN, FS-D+); Oilers at Rangers (6 p.m. EST; SNW, MSG); Sharks at Blackhawks (7 p.m. EST; TVA, CSN-CA, WGN) 

The numbers game

• Blues goalie Jake Allen's shutout streak of 184:38, which ended on Thursday night against the Devils, was the longest by an NHL rookie since Steve Mason of Columbus went 199:28 without allowing a goal during the 2008-09 season. Allen entered the weekend leading the NHL in goals-against average (1.40) and ranked second in save percentage (.944).

• The Bruins (vs. the Oilers) and Blackhawks (vs. the Blue Jackets) currently share the longest active winning streaks (13) against particular opponents. Boston hasn't lost to Edmonton on home ice since since Nov. 7, 1996.

• Ryan Miller is now the fastest goalie in Canucks history to reach 10 wins at the start of a season. Miller needed only 11 games. Bob Essensa and Kay Whitmore, the previous team record-holders didn't reach 10 victories until their 16th games.

​What you missed

• Blues phenom Vladimir Tarasenko struck again.

• The NHL's COO said ads on team jerseys are as certain as death and taxes.

• Thursday was "Political Loser Night" in Waterloo, Iowa, where the USHL's Blackhawks gave ticket discounts to fans who showed up with junk mail from candidates who lost in this week's elections.

• The Kings' distinctive coach, Darryl Sutter, was the subject of a meme.

• Carter Ashton's use of an asthma inhaler cost him a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL's PED policy. I've used an inhaler for winter sports for 20 years, so I feel for him. Judging by his game (and mine), I'm guessing there's not much "performance enhancer" in those things.

Must-reads

• This letter penned by Brendan Shanahan to his younger self is funny, smart and a solid piece of writing. Shanny may have missed his true calling.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs want to become the most popular hockey team in China. MLSE: No. 1 in business, No. 19 in the standings.

• Interesting piece here from former NHL keeper Jamie McLennan on the variety of styles employed today by goaltenders.

• Think Congress gets nothing done? Blame Wayne Gretzky.

• Nice job by the AHL with its quick response to the unsportsmanlike shenanigans of goalie David Leggio.

GALLERY: Week's coolest NHL photos

Snap Shots: Week's Cool NHL Photos On And Off The Ice

Blue Jackets fan

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

There's no masking this young fan's feelings for Sergei Bobrovsky before a Halloween game against the Maple Leafs at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Jason LaBarbera

Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

It wasn't Halloween, but journeyman goaltender Jason LaBarbera seemed to have a haunted look as he backstopped the Ducks to a 3-2 win over Colorado at the Pepsi Center in Denver on November 2, 2014.

Flames vs. Canadiens

Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images

The Flames and Canadiens converge as Calgary netminder Jonas Hiller looks to exit the scrum, with puck in tow, at the Bell Centre in Montreal on November 2, 2014.

Blue Jackets vs. Hurricanes

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

Nash bash: Nick Foligno of the Blue Jackets deposits Riley Nash of the Hurricanes onto Carolina's bench during the third period of their game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on November 4, 2014.

Flames fans

Jenn Pierce/NHLI via Getty Images

Flaming redheads warm up before a game against the Nashville Predators at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome on October 31, 2014.

Canadiens vs. Canucks

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

Vancouver's Daniel Sedin sails between Montreal defenseman Andrei Markov and goalie Carey Price to avoid a shot at Rogers Arena on October 30, 2014.

Andy Andreoff

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

A good skate: The Kings winger hops over the boards during a tilt against the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Oct. 31.

Canucks vs. Predators

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

Chris Higgins of the Canucks helps Nashville's Taylor Beck engage in a little face time with the fans at Nashville's Rogers Arena on November 2, 2014.

Ducks Power Player

John Cordes/Icon Sportswire

Two minutes for cross-checking during a break in the action against the New York Islanders at the Honda Center in Anaheim on November 5.

Red Wings vs. Rangers

Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

Derick Brassard of the Rangers delights the fans at Madison Square Garden by scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Jonas Gustavsson of the Red Wings on November 5, 2014.

Canucks vs. Predators

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

Alex Edler of the Canucks removes Nashville's James Neal from the offensive equation during their game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on November 2, 2014.

Maple Leafs vs. Coyotes

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Falling Leaf: Toronto's James van Riemsdyk lands on goaltender Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes during the third period of their game at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on November 4, 2014. The Maple Leafs fell, 3-2.

Patrick Wiercioch

Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images

All hail! The Senators defenseman celebrates the game winning goal late in the third period against the Red Wings at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre on November 4, 2014.

Devils vs. Blues

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Devils defenseman Marek Zidlicky received a two minute penalty for not-so-subtly holding Alexander Steen of the St. Louis Blues during the third period of their game at New Jersey's Prudential Center on November 4, 2014.

Red Wings bench

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

Darren Helm (43) and Pavel Datsyuk (13) watch the action at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Halloween. The game proved to be a horror show for the visiting Kings, who were soundly beaten, 5-2.

Red Wings fans

Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

Halloween night in Detroit.

David Clarkson and Alex Wennberg

Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

The Maple Leaf and Blue Jacket follow a loose puck during the second period at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on October 31, 2014.

Canucks vs. Avalanche

Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

One of those nights: Avalanche netminder Semyon Varlamov and winger Gabriel Landeskog have that hangdog look—as do their fans at Denver's Pepsi Center—while the Canucks celebrate yet another tally on the way to their 5-2 rout on November 4, 2014.

Red Wings vs. Rangers

Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

Flying wing: Riley Sheahan of the Red Wings goes airborne like the puck after being tripped by Rangers defenseman Mike Kostka at Madison Square Garden on November 5, 2014.

Rasmus Ristolainen and Alexei Emelin

Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images

Check please: The Sabres and Canadiens defenseman convene in the corner at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo on November 5, 2014.

Michal Neuvirth

Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images

The Sabres netminder was the splitting image of efficiency as he made a save during the third period against the Canadiens at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo on November 5, 2014.

Alex Ovechkin

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Tumbling stock: Struggling Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin was unceremoniously sent into the boards by the Coyotes during the third period of a Nov. 2 game at Washington's Verizon Center.

Coyotes-Capitals scrap

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The glovin' feeling: Linesman Brad Lazarowich tries to separate Brandon McMillan of the Arizona and Tom Wilson of the Capitals during the second period of their game at Washington's Verizon Center on November 2, 2014.

Kings vs. Hurricanes

Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images

Hurricane rising: Carolina's Nathan Gerbe kicks up a cloud of crystals in front of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during their game at PNC Arena in Raleigh on November 2, 2014.

Victor E. Rat

Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images

Florida's BB&T Center appears to have a rodent infestation during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 1, 2014.