If the Dallas Stars are going to reach the playoffs, Kari Lehtonen figures to play a major role. Lehtonen will get the start Monday night when the Stars finish their season series against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Dallas is 19-10 at home while Winnpeg is under .500 on the road. The Stars are coming off a 3-1 win over Ottawa on Saturday, and Kari Lehtonen stopped 26-of-27 shots in the victory. Dallas allowed an early goal by Erik Karlsson, but they outplayed and out-shot the Sens 44-27. Sitting just two points behind Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, the Stars are still in the driver's seat with a game in hand. The Coyotes figure to have a tougher match-up tonight, playing on the road in New York. Dallas will host the Jets tonight, and it's imperative that they take two points. That shouldn't be a problem if they play with as much grit as they did on Saturday. The Jets playoff hopes have all but faded away after losing six of their last eight home games. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, their starting goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has missed the last five games with a knee injury and this hurts them.
Backup Al Montoya doesn't come in with a lot of confidence, as he blames himself for the team's most recent loss: "I didn't make the saves I needed to make and at the end of the day that cost us the game," Montoya said. The Stars threw plenty of rubber at the net in their last game, so Montoya should be tested early and often tonight. Take the DALLAS STARS here on Monday night to get the big home win!