DALLAS (Interstat) — The Dallas Stars, holding firm in the Western Conference playoff picture, host the struggling Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center in a rematch of a late-January thriller. The Stars (39-24-0) enter on a strong run, having earned points in five of their last six games (4-1-1), including a 4-3 overtime victory over Chicago on Sunday. Rookie center Mavrik Bourque has been a catalyst, recording five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five contests. Vegas (29-34-0), meanwhile, looks to halt a slide that has seen them lose four of their last five, most recently a 4-2 home defeat to Minnesota on Friday. Winger Pavel Dorofeyev has been a bright spot, notching four points (two goals, two assists) over his last four games. The teams last met on Jan. 29 in Las Vegas, where the Stars edged the Golden Knights 5-4 in a shootout. That result is indicative of Dallas’s current trajectory and Vegas’s season-long battle with consistency. The Stars’ overall record and home-ice advantage position them as clear favorites against a Golden Knights squad that has found wins scarce. Dallas’s offense, averaging over four goals per game during its recent point streak, will test a Vegas team that was shut out just over a week ago in Pittsburgh. For Vegas, generating offense beyond Dorofeyev and top-line fixtures like Jack Eichel and Mitchell Marner will be critical. The Golden Knights’ defense must contain a deep Dallas attack led by Bourque and a productive supporting cast to have a chance on the road. This matchup kicks off a critical six-game homestand for the Stars as they solidify their postseason positioning. The Golden Knights, facing increasingly long odds, begin a difficult two-game Texas road trip seeking to play spoiler. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT.