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It isn't difficult to pinpoint where the Anaheim Ducks' current Achilles heel is located; it's undeniably up front, in attack, where the side have failed to score in two of their last three clashes. Saturday night's defeat at the hands of St. Louis was particularly demoralizing, with five goals conceded and none scored. Coincidentally, this was the Ducks' worst home defeat since an exact replica of that embarrassing scoreline almost two years ago against the Dallas Stars.

The Dallas Stars will once again provide the Ducks with a tough test at home tonight and they'll be looking to capitalize in particular on Anaheim's awful recent inability to convert on the power play. Against St. Louis, Anaheim missed three opportunities in the first period alone and went 0 for 5 overall.

Scott Niedermayer, for one, seems to be aware of how the team needs to improve. It's not just physical strength that matters in situations such as these; the mental capacity to make golden opportunities count and force an advantage as quickly as possible in a game is equally as important.

Physically, the Ducks know that they can improve; they were tied for fourth in the league last season with a solid conversion percentage of 23.6 on the power play. Their current disappointing percentage may be a far cry from last season's figure but the tide will have to turn at some point and that time may be tonight, with the anticipated return of James Wisniewski and the opposition being a side that doesn't have a lot to be proud of with regards to power plays either. The Stars' own weaknesses were all too evident in their defeat at the hands of Los Angeles earlier this week, when they went 0 for 4 during a comfortable victory for their opponents.

In fact, the current inadequacies of these two sides appear to mirror each other to a certain extent, since Dallas are also looking less than potent in attack. Against Los Angeles, they managed to notch up just 4 shots, compared to their opponents' total of 18. Hitting the road may revitalize this team but they will enter this clash bearing several names on the injury list.

The Stars have had no option other than to introduce inexperience to the side to fill the void created by injury and tonight is the night for these young players to prove themselves. Those players who have more experience on the ice will be expected to offer a helping hand again, particularly Brenden Morrow, who put in a strong performance full of power and skillful, deft touches against the Kings.

Last season, Anaheim went 3-2-1 against Dallas and the Ducks are favorites to win this clash at odds of [2.18], with the Stars on at [2.9].