STARS, PREDS DESCEND ON COTTON BOWL STADIUM AHEAD OF WINTER CLASSIC

The Stars and Predators will both make an appearance at Cotton Bowl Stadium today in Dallas, Texas ahead of Wednesday’s 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Dallas will hold a practice and media availability starting at 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday followed by a Nashville media availability at approximately 6 p.m. CT.

* After struggling out of the gate with a 1-7-1 mark in their first nine games this season, the Stars (22-14-4, 48 points) have reeled off a 21-7-3 record since Oct. 19 to catapult into third place in the Central Division. Dallas’ rebound has been aided by a knack for come-from-behind wins – they lead the League with six victories when trailing through two periods this season.

* The Predators (18-14-6, 42 points) sit three points out of a playoff spot but hold multiple games in hand on each team between them and a postseason slot in the compact Western Conference standings that features four teams currently outside of a playoff position within five points of one and just a five-point gap between the third-place and 10th-place clubs. Nashville has qualified for the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, tied with Washington for the second-longest active streak behind Pittsburgh (13).

* Dallas and Nashville met in the postseason for the first time in the First Round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Stars (First Wild Card) eliminating the Central Division champion Predators in six games. John Klingberg scored at 17:02 of overtime in Game 6 to become the first Stars/North Stars blueliner to score an overtime goal in a series-clinching game.

* The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Interactive Information Guide now is available for download for registered users via the League’s Media site. Information on the 25 previous regular-season outdoor games - including results, attendance and box scores - also is available on records.NHL.com.

* ICYMI: As a legacy to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, the NHL joined the Dallas Stars Foundation’s efforts to make hockey more accessible to the community with the donation of a brand-new ball hockey court at St. Philip’s School & Community Center.

MALKIN, JARRY EXTEND STREAKS IN WIN

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (2-1—3) tallied twice – including opening the scoring 27 seconds in – and has collected at least one point in each of his last nine games (5-11—16). His career high for most consecutive games played with at least one point within a regular season is 15, a mark set from Oct. 23 – Nov. 22, 2007 (7-15—22) and matched from Jan. 16 – March 4, 2010 (9-15—24).

* The resurgent Malkin owns a points per game average of 1.46 this season (11-27—38 in 26 GP), the third-highest in the NHL. His best points per game average at the conclusion of a regular season was 1.45 in 2011-12 (50-59—109 in 75 GP), when he captured the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

* Tristan Jarry (24 saves) improved to 6-0-0 in his last six appearances dating to Dec. 12 (1.80 GAA, .939 SV%, 1 SO), extending the longest win streak of his NHL career. Jarry became the sixth goaltender in franchise history age 24 or younger to record a win in six or more consecutive appearances within a regular season (ages based at final game of streak), joining Marc-Andre Fleury (3x), Matt Murray (3x), Greg Millen (2x), Patrick Lalime and Roberto Romano.

* The Penguins earned their League-leading 16th home win of the season and improved to 24-11-4 (52 points), leapfrogging the idle Islanders (24-10-3, 51 points) for second place in the Metropolitan Division standings.

QUICK CLICKS

* 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic By the Numbers
* NHL announces rosters for 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game
* Candidates for 2020 NHL All-Star Last Men In presented by adidas revealed
* Victor Hedman, Jordan Binnington, John Tavares named NHL’s “Three Stars” of the week
* Steve Mayer's trip to Cotton Bowl Stadium in 2018 leads to Winter Classic

PREVIEW OF TODAY’S ACTION