DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars are looking for consistency when they host the New York Rangers on Thursday at American Airlines Center.The Stars (12-13-6) play the second contest of a five-game homestand, one which coach Lindy Ruff said could define the struggling teams season. The Stars opened the homestand with a 6-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.Its important. We all realize where were at in the standings and how weve been playing to start the year, Stars captain Jamie Benn said. We see this homestand as a big one for us. Like you said, it could be make or break and we want to be making something of this. We got one tonight and well regroup and get ready for the next one.The Stars scored five goals in a span of six minutes, 43 seconds against the Ducks, and goalie Antti Niemi made 34 saves to improve to 6-1-1 at home. The Finnish goalie was playing for the first time in five games, and said getting a quick start was important for his confidence.Against Anaheim, Niemi made several key saves in the first period, including a stop on a 3-on-1 and a stop on a breakaway on the same shift.The Rangers (20-10-1) have been riding Antti Raantas hot hand and the back-up goalie made four consecutive starts. He won three straight games and posted back-to-back shutouts before the Rangers lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday 2-1.While Raanta played well in the loss, Henrik Lundqvist will likely start against the Stars and Raanta said hes well aware the Swede is the Rangers starter.Its special when you can steal starts from Hank, Raanta said on Tuesday.No matter who starts in goal, the Rangers rely on one of the NHLs best offenses this season. New York scored a league-best 106 goals through 31 games, and 14 players have at least 12 points, including leading-scorer J.T. Miller with 22.Miller has been one of the NHLs breakout stars this season. He had 43 points in 82 games last season and is on pace to set a career high in his third professional season.The Stars led the NHL in goals last season, but have yet to find the offensive spark on a consistent basis. Theyve scored 11 goals in their last two home games, but scored only three goals during back-to-back road losses sandwiched in between the victories.Ruff is hopeful his lineup will build off the win against Anaheim, and the Stars should be better as injured players return to form. Jiri Hudler had his first point of the season against the Ducks, while defenseman Johnny Oduya played his second game after returning from injury and had an assist.The Stars will also have Jamie Oleksiak back as a lineup option against the Rangers. The 6-foot-7 defenseman was suspended two games for a hit to the head on Philadelphias Chris VandeVelde on Saturday.Oleksiak had been playing some of his best hockey this season before the suspension. While Oleksiak has only played in 13 of the Stars first 31 games, Ruff said his play recently dictated he should be in the lineup.Samuel Morin Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Robert Hagg Jersey . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. http://www.flyersteamstoreonline.com/authentic-oskar-lindblom-flyers-jersey/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Dave Schultz Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Nolan Patrick Flyers Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Shea Weber didnt have to turn far to get the lowdown on Montreal upon learning he had been traded to the Canadiens.Standing immediately next to Weber was good friend and former Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges, who was staring at his phone in disbelief. The two had just finished a boating excursion with their sons in Kelowna, British Columbia, and left their phones in the car when the blockbuster trade that sent P.K. Subban to Nashville was completed on June 29.We parked the boat and grabbed our phones and both were blown up by calls and messages, recalled Gorges, who now plays for the Sabres. It was kind of comical, to be honest with you.Once the shock wore off, Gorges told Weber what to expect in making the switch from relative anonymity in Music City to Montreal, one of the NHLs most passionate hockey markets.Youll be under the microscope, Gorges said. People are going to know everything thats going on.Gorges also knew that if anyone could handle the added attention, it was Weber, an 11-year NHL veteran and six-year captain of the Predators.He kind of just makes people around him follow him, Gorges said. Hes got this intimidating presence to him where if you arent going as hard as he is, you better watch out.Though both are elite NHL defensemen in their own regard, Weber and Subban are polar opposites in personality and styles of play.The Predators gave up toughness but got younger by adding a 27-year-old play-maker.For Montreal, the trade made sense for a variety of reasons.Subban was the Canadiens most popular player and highly regarded for his charitable work, but his defensive lapses and outgoing personality didnt exactly fit coach Michel Therriens blue-collar philosophy or preferred leadership style.The 31-year Weber is a big-bodied player who is sound defensively and adds offense with a blistering shot. Just as important is Webers no-nonsense approach.Hes got some maturity, hes got some experience. Hes a true leader, Therrien said. And weve got some young kids who are going to learn to become pros because this guy is all business.That wasnt always the case with Subban, who drew attention to himself through his on-ice celebrations or off-ice run-ins with celebrity.Weber, by comparison, is an introvert. Shortly before Montreals season-opening 4-1 win at Buffalo last week, Weber wasnt yet ready to assess the differences between Montreal and Nashville.Ive only been here a couple of weeks so its tough to tell, Weber said. Im going to prepare the same way I have over my career and try to be the same player and the same guy they brought me in here to be.Captain Max Pacioretty has already noticed a difference.Ive seen it from the second he walked into the locker room. He has a presence, Pacioretty said. Every team is looking to impprove their locker room and making sure they have the right guys off the ice.dddddddddddd. Ours is just magnified because of the market we play in.POPULAR PREDATORSubban is already making a splash in Nashville, where he will be featured in a Bridgestone Tire national ad campaign. On Sunday, Subban turns his attention to the NFL as the Honorary 12th Titan for Tennessees home game against the Indianapolis Colts.CATCHING UP WITH CARPENTERWith his three kids now out of high school, former NHL star Bobby Carpenter is considering a return to coaching.Though nothings firm, Carpenter expects to start at the American Hockey League ranks to re-familiarize himself with the job. Carpenter had 320 goals and 728 points in 1,178 career games over 21 NHL seasons split over six teams, including his final six in New Jersey, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1995. After retiring in 1999, he won two more Cups as a Devils assistant coach.Carpenter was in Buffalo recently to watch his daughter, Alexandra, make her National Womens Hockey League debut with the Boston Pride.At Boston College, Alexandra Carpenter was college hockeys top player in 2014-15, and she was a member of the U.S. team that won a silver medal at the Sochi Games. She already has four goals and five points in five games for the Pride.This is entertaining, Carpenter said of the second-year league during Bostons eventual 4-1 win over the Buffalo Beauts.Before the game, Beauts defenseman Harrison Browne announced he identified as male in becoming the leagues first transgender player.I dont have any problems with any of that at all. It just makes everything more interesting, Carpenter said of Browne. Its such an open world.BEHIND THE MASKWashington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby raised more than $20,000 for charity in auctioning off his Team Canada World Cup of Hockey mask, the National Hockey League Players Association announced. The money will go toward two of Canadian rocker Gord Downies charitable foundations. Downie, The Tragically Hip frontman, is being treated for a brain tumor.MILESTONE WATCHBlackhawks forward Marian Hossa scored his 500th goal and 1,093th point in his 1,240th career game in a 7-4 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night.LEADERSPoints, Brent Burns (San Jose), 8; Goals, Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis), David Pastrnak (Boston), Richard Panik (Chicago) and Auston Matthews (Toronto), 4; Power-play points, Ryan Johansen (Nashville) and Rasmus Ristolainen (Buffalo), 4; Penalty minutes, Jonathan Ericsson (Detroit), 24.GAME OF THE WEEKThe San Jose Sharks travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday in a rematch of last seasons Stanley Cup Final, which the Penguins won in six games. ' ' '