(My Sportsbook) - The Dallas Stars have just about played themselves out of a postseason spot. Now they have to avoid getting closer to the worst losing streak in club history.

Owners of the franchise's longest losing streak since relocating to Dallas, the Stars visit the Los Angeles Kings tonight at the Staples Center.

Heading into a matchup with Vancouver back on March 17, the Stars had won three of five and were playing better hockey. That allowed them to move into the eight spot in the West, one season after an appearance in the conference final.

However, Dallas has since lost seven straight games for the first time since the then-Minnesota-based club did so from since November 30-December 12, 1989. The Stars haven't dropped eight in a row since November 11-29, 1978 and are now just two setbacks shy of matching the franchise-record 10-game losing streak set during the 1975-76 season.

Marty Turco had been in net for the first six games of this losing streak, posting a 3.18 goals against average in that time, but was given the night off last night versus Phoenix. Tobias Stephan took his place in net and allowed all six goals in a 6-5 overtime loss to Phoenix. He ended with 27 saves.

Loui Eriksson netted his team-best 34th goal, while Brendan Morrison and Chris Conner had a goal and an assist each. Mike Ribeiro chipped in three helpers for the Stars, who are now eight points back of postseason spot with seven games to go.

The Stars have also lost five straight on the road and are 14-18-5 as the guest this year.

Turco should be back in net tonight and he has started all five of Dallas' games versus Los Angeles this year. Though he has 15 career wins versus the Kings, Turco is just 1-1-3 against them this year with a 2.28 GAA.

Dallas swept the eight-game season series in 2006-07, but have lost eight of 13 to Los Angeles since. The Stars have also dropped two straight and five of their last six in the City of Angels.

The Kings return home, where they are 16-14-8 this year, after going 2-3-1 on a six-game road trip. That swing ended in Nashville on Saturday with a 4-3 overtime loss.

Brian Boyle, Matt Greene and Jack Johnson scored for the Kings, while Jonathan Quick allowed four goals on 28 shots in defeat. Quick is 2-1-0 with a 2.00 GAA in his career versus the Stars.