Preview: Struggling Maple Leafs Visit Surging Stars DALLAS (Interstat) — The struggling Toronto Maple Leafs, mired in a 2-5-1 slump over their last eight games, face a daunting task Sunday when they visit the Western Conference power Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. The game pits teams on opposite trajectories. The Stars (24-12-0) enter with the NHL’s fourth-best record and are 8-2-0 in their last 10, coming off an 8-3 road rout of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. The Maple Leafs (15-18-0) have lost three straight, including a 4-0 shutout loss in Washington on Thursday where they managed only 18 shots. A key matchup will be in goal, where Toronto’s Dennis Hildeby is expected to start. Hildeby has shown flashes, including a 29-save shutout against Tampa Bay on Dec. 8, but has lost his last three starts, allowing 13 goals on 92 shots (.859 save percentage) in that span. He will need to be sharp against a deep Dallas attack. That attack is led by winger Jason Robertson, who is riding a hot streak. Robertson had two goals and an assist in the win over Anaheim and has points in seven of his last 10 games, totaling six goals and four assists in that stretch. The Stars have scored four or more goals in six of their last eight victories. Toronto’s offense, meanwhile, has gone cold, scoring just five total goals during its three-game skid. No Maple Leaf recorded a point in the loss to Washington. The Stars have dominated at home with a 13-4-0 record. The Maple Leafs are 7-10-0 on the road. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, Dallas is projected to win 4-2. This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. They will meet again in Toronto on March 19. Following this game, the Maple Leafs return home to host Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Stars travel to Detroit for a game on Tuesday.