StarPoints For 2/4 vs Columbus

1.)  The Stars and Blue Jackets are meeting for the fourth and final time this season and second time at Nationwide Arena. Dallas is looking to split the season series with Columbus after falling 4-1 Nov. 19 in Dallas and 2-0 Jan. 10 in Columbus. The Stars collected a 3-1 win at home against the Blue Jackets Dec. 23 on a pair of goals from James Neal.
 
2.)  Dallas is coming off of a four-game home stand having collected wins over Calgary, Colorado and Minnesota, and will look to carry this momentum in to tonight’s game. Dallas has struggled on the road, only winning one of their last 10 road games, but Columbus has the sixth worst home record at 12-9-5, where they have been outscored 73-64. The Stars are 12-3-2 all time at Nationwide Arena and have outscored the Blue Jackets 51-39 in those contests.

3.)  James Neal is public enemy number one in Columbus following a boarding incident with Derek Dorsett in Nov. and a fight with Derick Brassard last year that ended Brassard’s season early. Neal hasn’t let Columbus get to him though. He notched two goals, including the game winner, in the Dec. 23 tilt and has tallied a total of seven points (6g, 1a) in seven career games against the Blue Jackets. Neal recorded his team-leading 22nd goal of the season Wednesday against the Wild.
 
4.)  Marty Turco will be in net for the Stars tonight. Turco is coming off a spectacular win against Minnesota, where he stopped a season high 40 of 42 shots for a 4-2 win. He is 0-2 against Columbus this season, but put on quite a show in a 2-0 loss Jan. 10. Marty stopped 39 of 40 shots before Antoine Vermette added an empty netter to seal the win for the Blue Jackets. Having sat out the first three games of the Stars’ home stand, Turco is eager to show why he should be the starting goalie in Dallas.
 
5.)  One to watch for: Left wing Kristian Huselius has had Dallas’ number through the first three games of the season series, netting two goals and three helpers. He is tied for second in points (16-27-43) for the Blue Jackets this season and has registered 10 points (2g, 8a) over his last eight games.