The Dallas Stars are off to their best start in club history behind the NHL's highest-scoring offense.
They'll try to match their longest winning streak of the season Saturday night by knocking off the Buffalo Sabres for the second time in five days.
Dallas (16-4-0) owns the league's best record and seeking its fifth straight victory. The Stars are averaging 3.6 goals, the franchise's most since the 1986-87 Minnesota North Stars scored 3.7 per contest. It's also the NHL's highest average since Washington averaged 3.8 in 2009-10.
They've scored at least three goals in all but four games.
"The start has been really good," coach Lindy Ruff told the team's official website. "There have been a few games that have been tighter. We've gotten down, but we've been able to battle back. We have a few things going."
The Stars have also had some good fortune on their side, coming out a league-best 5-1-0 in one-goal games following Thursday's 3-2 win at Washington. Jason Spezza scored the winner at the 11:10 mark of the third period, the third straight contest in which he's found the back of the net after a 10-game drought.
"We've been in many of these this season, and we believe we can get it done," said goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who improved to 9-1-0. "We didn't panic when they tied it. That's nice."
They won 3-1 in Buffalo on Tuesday behind Alex Goligoski's two assists for their fourth victory in five meetings. The Sabres appeared to tie the game with 6:15 left on a goal by Sam Reinhart, but the goal was disallowed after video review confirmed Ruff's challenge that Tyler Ennis was offside on the play.
"Offside has been around a long time, so I've got to get to know that rule a little better," Ennis told the league's official website.
That was the second of a season-high three straight losses for the visiting Sabres (8-9-2), all of which have come in close fashion. They lost 2-1 in overtime to San Jose last Saturday and 3-2 in a shootout Thursday at St. Louis.
Buffalo failed to score on any of its four power plays and surrendered two power-play goals on three chances for the Blues.
"We were plus-two on the 5-on-5 tonight," coach Dan Bylsma said. "I thought the special teams pretty much dictated the whole game right from the beginning with the major penalty that we took."
The Sabres have struggled on the penalty kill, giving up 13 goals on 48 opportunities, including five in 15 chances spanning the last five games. Dallas has scored seven times on 20 chances with the man advantage over its last eight games.
On Tuesday, though, the Stars didn't capitalize on their lone opportunity, while Buffalo's goal was by Ryan O'Reilly on a power play. O'Reilly has scored in three straight games after tallying four goals in his first 16 contests. His seven lead the team.
Tyler Seguin will look to extend his point streak against the Sabres to six games after recording three goals and three assists in the last five meetings.
Buffalo is 4-3-1 on the road and had won four of five prior to Thursday's loss.
