Back in October, it seemed unfathomable that the Phoenix Coyotes could be considered playoff contenders. But following their shrewd claiming of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks, the Coyotes are right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. On Thursday night, they will host the division rival Dallas Stars, in a critical game. These teams faced off on Monday night, with the Stars winning 2-1 and Bryzgalov stopping 42 of 44 shots in defeat for the Coyotes. Will the Coyotes rebound with a victory in the rematch? Check out this important Western Conference battle in brilliant 1080i on HDNet, live at 9:00 pm ET.

Stars to Watch

It's often the case that playing in one's hometown can present huge problems, and that was surely the case for center Mike Ribeiro during his days in Montreal. But since arriving in Texas in October 2006, Ribeiro has been an absolute revelation for the Stars, emerging as the team's most prolific scorer and--even more surprisingly--their plus-minus leader this season. The speedy Ribeiro signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension earlier this season, ensuring that he'll remain in Dallas for the foreseeable future.

Captain Brenden Morrow has played quite well in his own right, crashing the net to create additional space for Ribeiro, and he's showing no ill effects from the wrist injury that forced him to miss most of the 2006-07 season. Morrow has tallied 54 points in 60 games (including 24 goals) to go along with a very solid plus-15 rating, and the combination of his smash-mouth style and Ribeiro's craftiness makes the Stars' top line very difficult to neutralize.

The Stars' biggest strength, however, is their defense. Led by veteran Mattias Norstrom, Dallas boasts the NHL's finest penalty-killing unit, and with nine shorthanded goals, they're equally adept at counterattacking. The longtime captain of the Kings, Norstrom's plus-minus rating isn't particularly impressive (minus-eight), but because he's matched against the opposition's top forwards every night--and doesn't typically contribute much offensively--that statistic is quite deceiving.

The backbone of the Dallas defense, of course, is goaltender Marty Turco. Incredibly athletic, Turco proved during last spring's playoffs that he is in fact a big-game netminder. And judging from his performance during this regular season (.911 SV%, 2.30 GAA, 24-11-4 record), he has earned his place amongst the NHL's top goaltenders. Should the Stars continue their strong play through the conclusion of the regular season, look for Turco to receive consideration for the Vezina Trophy.

Coyotes to Watch

Like Morrow for the Stars, Shane Doan is the fearless leader for the Coyotes. He's currently listed as day-to-day with a groin injury, but if it's possible for him to play, Doan will suit up against Dallas on Thursday night. The Coyotes' scoring leader with 54 points in 55 games (including 36 assists), Doan is more of a playmaker than a sniper, but his five power play goals are still second-best on the team behind Radim Vrbata and Peter Mueller.

The exceptionally talented Vrbata broke in with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2001-02 season, then made two more stops (with the Hurricanes and Blackhawks) before landing in Phoenix this season. He certainly showed flashes of brilliance over the previous five seasons, but it wasn't until this year that he finally emerged as a consistent sniper. With 24 goals and 42 points, Vrbata has already set career highs in all critical offensive statistics.

Young Peter Mueller, the eighth overall pick in the 2006 draft, certainly hasn't disappointed in his first NHL season. With 39 points in 56 games (including 19 goals), the speedy Mueller is rapidly emerging as one of the Coyotes' most reliable scoring threats. He's scored 20 points in his last 16 games, and has been one of the keys to the Coyotes' resurgence.

Of course, the biggest factor in the Coyotes' rise to playoff contention has been goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Claimed off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this season, Bryzgalov's arrival coincided directly with the Coyotes' turnaround, his stellar netminder providing the perfect safety net for Phoenix's young players. He's stopped 92% of the shots he's faced since joining the Coyotes while posting a solid 18-13-4 record, and if the Hart Trophy were actually given to the league's most valuable player, Bryzgalov would without question deserve serious consideration.

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