The set-up: The Dallas Stars went 1-4-2 from Oct. 27 through Nov. 8 but have begun to build some momentum are beginning to build some momentum after beating Calgary 4-2 (Thursday) and Edmonton 3-2 (Friday). The Canucks started the season with four straight wins at home, limp back to Rogers Arena after a 1-5-0 road trip. Vancouver is last in the league in scoring at 1.8 goals per game and near the bottom on the power play (8.7 percent). It's pretty easy to see why the Canucks aren't winning.

Dallas: Injuries have slowed the 6-6-3 Stars in the early going but help is on the way as veteran forwards Jason Spezza (lower body) and Patrick Sharp (concussion) could return to the lineup soon for the Stars. Still ailing though are Ales Hemsky (hip surgery), Cody Eakin (knee), Mattias Janmark (knee) and Jiri Hudler (illness). Tyler Seguin leads the team with seven goals and 17 points, and is among a group of forwards raising their production level over the last week. Seguin and Patrick Eaves have each notched five points in the last four games while Jamie Benn owns two goals and two assists during the brief winning streak. "We're finding ways to defend," Seguin told reporters. "With guys out of the lineup, that's a lot of speed and a lot of goal scoring. Our main focus and discussions have been how we're going to defend."

Vancouver: The 5-9-1 Canucks take the ice this afternoon having lost 10 of their last 11 games. Frustration could be setting in, as despite outshooting their opponents in four of six games on the road trip, Vancouver won just one game. Scoring has been balanced but not enough of it. No one has reached double figures in points through the first 15 games with Henrik Sedin leading the way at nine. Jacob Markstrom (4-2-1, 2.23 goals-against average, .915 save percentage) has performed better than Ryan Miller (1-7-0, 2.79, .907) in goal but Miller is expected to make a second consecutive start in this one.

The pick: The Star have won the last 10 meetings with the Canucks but note that Dallas goalie Antti Niemi comes in sporting some shaky numbers, a GAA of 3.65 and a save percentage of only .892. "We're doing some good things, but it's not good enough just to do that," Vancouver head coach Desjardins said after a practice at the University of British Columbia. "We have to find ways to score." This marks the Stars' eighth game in November's first 13 days, including a fifth straight road game in the last eight days. Expect the Canucks to score enough to win here and break that 10-game losing streak to Dallas. Vancouver is a 10* play.