No Easy Answers for Prolific Stars

The Dallas Stars, one of the Ducks’ chief tormentors over the years, became the NHL’s first team to reach 100 points this season with Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg believes he knows the keys to the Stars’ success.

“Persistence and consistency,” Hartsburg said of the Stars, who play the Ducks tonight at the Arrowhead Pond. “They don’t change how they play from night to night, which is amazing. They have been consistently great, consistently desperate and consistently consistent.”

Dallas has dispatched the Ducks with relative ease, holding an 18-6-1 advantage in the all-time series.

“We’re going to have to find a way to break them down,” Hartsburg said. “We’ve got to play them two more times. . . . Up until now, they’ve outplayed everybody.”

So, why are the Stars so troublesome?

“It’s probably a product of a lot of things,” Hartsburg said. “They have a lot of veteran players. [Coach Ken] Hitchcock does a great job of not letting anyone back off. It’s coaching, experience and the way the team is built.”

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Hartsburg on the Ducks’ possible playoff opponent: “We could see anybody at this point. We could see nobody. We need to get some wins.”

TONIGHT vs. Dallas, 7:30 Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 31-28-11, Stars 45-14-12.

* Record vs. Stars--0-3-1.

* Update--Injured defensemen Fredrik Olausson (bruised ribs) and Ruslan Salei (sore shoulder) might play tonight after missing two games. A determination on their availability will be made after this morning’s skate. Center Steve Rucchin will be sidelined for the second consecutive game because of a groin strain. The Ducks are 1-3-2 in their last six games after winning a franchise-record seven in a row.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.