hander Ricky Nolasco (6-14, 4.78 ERA overall, 2-6 w

CHICAGO -- If the Chicago Blackhawks are to extend their current winning streak by sweeping a weekend home-and-home series with the Dallas Stars, theyll need end a skid against their Central Division rivals at the United Center.Chicago goes for its sixth win in a row Sunday evening when it meets Dallas for the second time in as many days.The Blackhawks (8-3-1) stretched their streak to five games with a 3-2 win over the Stars on Saturday night.I dont think anyone realizes were on a little streak like that, Chicago captain Jonathan Toews said. Were just focusing on trying to improve every single day.However, Chicago has been outscored 16-7 while dropping three in a row -- all in regulation -- on the West Side against Dallas. Chicago hasnt lost four straight at home to the Stars since Oct. 13, 1996-Oct. 24, 1997.Chicago got goals Saturday from Richard Panik, Ryan Hartman and Patrick Kane, who also had an assist, and 31 saves from Corey Crawford.Kane, the first U.S.-born Hart Trophy winner, has registered points in six of his last seven games, totaling three goals and six assists. He also believes the club can do more.I thought tonight was a little bit better of a game, all-around for us, and we can still can improve, Kane told the Chicago Sun-Times. Its good were winning these games, knowing we can be better.Chicago has scored 18 goals during its winning streak, but as impressive as that might be, there might not be a goaltender in the league playing better right now than Crawford. After yielding 13 goals while going 1-3-1 in his first four games this season, Crawford has given up just seven goals in six games, posting a record of 5-0-1.However, Crawford will have something to prove against the Stars. He has lost his last two home starts against Dallas, playing just 78 minutes and posting a 6.90 goals-against average with a .824 save percentage.Brett Richie and Curtis McKenzie scored first-period goals Saturday for the Stars, who failed again to post consecutive wins for the first time this season, and dropped to 0-2-1 in their last three games.Dallas is 1-3-1 on the road and has surrendered at least one power-play goal in each of five road games this season. Chicago, meanwhile, has killed off 12 straight short-handed situations in the last four games.Theyve got a good team, and we have to handle that a little, Stars coach Lindy Ruff told the Dallas Morning News.Injuries to key players have contributed to the slow start by Dallas (4-5-2).Patrick Sharp, a former fan favorite who played nine-plus seasons for Chicago, is on injured reserve with concussion-like symptoms. Also on injured reserve are Ales Hemsky (hip), Mattias Janmark (knee) and Cody Eakin (knee).And the list grew Sunday. Jiri Hudler, who had been on IR with an illness earlier in the season, was moved back to the list on Sunday morning.No good news, Ruff said. Still struggling with whatever type of virus he has.Jason Spezza, who has four goals in nine games so far, left after the second period with an upper body injury. Ruff said after the game that Spezza will miss some time.Former Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi made 29 saves Saturday, but Kari Lethonen might get the start in net for this game. Lehtonen has surrendered 10 goals en route to an 0-2-1 record in his last three starts overall, but only seven shots have gotten past him while winning his last three starts in Chicago.Chicago right winger Marian Hossa, who scored his 500th NHL goal on Oct. 18, is two points shy of 1,100 for his career. Hossa ranks fourth among active players in points behind Jaromir Jagr, Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla. Cheap Custom Jerseys . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Custom Winnipeg Jets Jerseys Cheap . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. http://www.hockeyjerseyscustom.com/ . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Custom Montreal Canadiens Jerseys Cheap . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Custom Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Cheap . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. HOUSTON -- What appeared on paper to be a forgiving closing schedule is playing out that way for the Houston Astros, who concluded a successful road trip Wednesday while also continuing to get help from their wild-card competition.The Astros (81-71) capped a three-game sweep of the Athletics with a 6-5, white-knuckle win, closing a six-game swing through Seattle and Oakland with just one loss. Houston has won six of seven games to climb back to 10 games over .500, its high point on the season, catching fire at the right time with the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles slumping just enough to enable the Astros to close the gap in the American League wild-card standings.Houston will enter a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday tied with the Detroit Tigers (80-70) one game behind the Orioles (82-70) for the second wild-card slot and just two games in back of Toronto (83-69) for the first.After closing a rugged 13-game stretch against first-place teams 5-8, the Astros appeared to be on life support. However, with the Angels and the Mariners, against whom the Astros are a combined 21-7 in 2016, upcoming on the final homestand, hope springs eternal.Its starts with a winning road trip, which would have been 4-2, obviously, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. We were one game short of perfect, and were really taking this one game at a time, which is the worst cliche you can use this time of year, but its the reality of how we show up every day in trying to win todays game.We try to focus on ourselves and not on whats going on around us. We know if we win, good things will happen to us. We still need somme help, but we start from that premise that were going to try to win todays game, and the day can only get better.ddddddddddddouston will send right-hander Mike Fiers to the mound against the Angels (66-86) on Thursday night. Fiers (11-7, 4.46 ERA) took the Astros lone loss in the season series, allowing seven earned runs over 3 2/3 innings on May 27. He won his second start against the Angels and is 1-1 with a 5.92 ERA against them in four career appearances.The Angels will counter with right-hander Ricky Nolasco (6-14, 4.78 ERA overall, 2-6 with a 4.03 ERA for Los Angeles).Nolasco, 5-1 with a 4.38 ERA against the Astros over eight career games (seven starts), recorded scoreless outings in his two wins with the Angels, twirling a shutout against the Cincinnati Reds and working six scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Sept. 17 in his most recent start.Even with the Angels playing out the string tied for last place in the AL West, center fielder Mike Trout remains an overwhelming force and a potential obstacle on the Astros road to the postseason. Trout cranked a three-run home run in the Angels 5-4 win at Texas on Wednesday night, his 28th, and his statistical profile befits that of an AL MVP candidate despite the teams overall struggles.Mike is making a big case for MVP, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, according to MLB.com. Hes done everything you could ever ask a player to do, and unfortunately, we havent had the depth around him to take advantage of some of the things hes done. ' ' '