The Columbus Blue Jackets are on the verge of establishing the best start in team history even though they are without some key skaters.
The Dallas Stars have been falling short due to their top line not producing.
The Blue Jackets look to open a season with three victories for the first time when they host the winless Stars on Tuesday night.
Columbus is without Brandon Dubinsky, Nathan Horton, Ryan Murray and Boone Jenner. That hasn't stopped the Blue Jackets from winning their first two games for the second time and first since 2009-10.
The key has been the top line centered by Ryan Johansen with wingers Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno. That trio has totaled nine points, six coming in Saturday's 5-2 win over the New York Rangers in the Blue Jackets' home opener.
"I think we complement each other really well," Atkinson said. "Obviously, Joey in the middle with that big frame and those skills is a big part of it. Nick and I just try to find space out there."
Dallas coach Lindy Ruff used Cody Eakin with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin on his top line in Monday's practice. His previous top line of Benn, Seguin and Valeri Nichushkin has yet to produce a point.
"I think our top guys have struggled and it's probably hurt us more than anything," Ruff said. "If they're going well, we're going to win. And they struggled. They had a little bit of a tough preseason and I think we're seeing a little bit of that still now."
Seguin and Benn combined for 163 points last season while Nichushkin tied for eighth among rookies with 34. They have come up empty on 12 shots this season.
"We got no excuses in here," Benn said after Saturday's 4-1 loss at Nashville. "I think it starts from the top and I could have been the worst player out there tonight so I can take a lot of the blame for tonight's game."
Dallas (0-1-1) figures to turn back to top goaltender Kari Lehtonen, who was rested after making 24 saves in a season-opening 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago last Thursday. Lehtonen is 5-5-1 with a 1.91 goals-against average in 11 career starts against Columbus.
He figures to be matched up with a formidable opponent in Sergei Bobrovsky, who has gone 6-0-1 with a 1.82 GAA in seven career starts against the Stars. Columbus went 2-0-0 against Dallas last season, with Bobrovsky winning both times.
The Stars have more to worry about than just the Blue Jackets' top line. Artem Anisimov has scored twice this season and had three goals against Dallas in 2013-14.
"We're working hard, we're skating, we're doing the things necessary to win," Foligno said. "Bob (Bobrovsky) has been outstanding. If we had that kind of effort every night, we're going to give ourselves the best chance to win."
These teams have played defense very differently so far. Dallas is blocking an average of 21.5 shots for one of the league's highest marks while Columbus is at 8.0 for one of the lowest.
