(Best E Casino) - The Boston Bruins begin a three-game homestand tonight, when they welcome the Dallas Stars to TD Banknorth Garden.

Boston is returning home from what can be considered a successful three-game road trip. Netminder Tim Thomas posted back-to-back 1-0 shutout wins in Edmonton and Vancouver before suffering a 3-2 setback in Calgary on Thursday.

Thomas began the season splitting time with Manny Fernandez, but was in net for all three games of the swing. He was in the midst of a 152 minute and 14 second shutout streak before getting beat 2:29 into the second period of Thursday's loss.

Thomas allowed three goals on 38 shots, while Patrice Bergeron and Blake Wheeler both lit the lamp in a loss that snapped Boston's three-game winning streak.

The Bruins are 1-1-1 as the host this year and also welcome Toronto and Buffalo to town on this stand.

Boston has lost its last two versus the Stars, including a 4-1 setback in Dallas last season. Thomas, who is second in the NHL with a 1.95 goals against average, hasn't faced the Stars since a 2-1 shootout loss on January 14, 2006. He made 37 saves in that one.

Dallas began a five-game road trip on Friday night with a 5-2 loss in Chicago. The setback moved the Stars to just 2-4-0 on the road this season.

Loui Eriksson and Steve Ott each scored for Dallas, which has yet to win back- to-back games this season. Mike Ribeiro notched his 11th assist of the season.

The Stars played without center Brad Richards, who is day-to-day because of a lower body injury. He has three goals and five assists in 10 contests this season, as he missed his first game of the 2008-09 campaign.

Dallas also placed Joel Lundqvist on injured reserve Friday because of a shoulder ailment that is expected to sideline the forward for four-to-six weeks.

With Marty Turco struggling, Tobias Stephan made his second straight start in net on Friday and stopped 27 shots in the loss.

Turco is just 3-4-2 in nine starts this year with a 4.26 GAA and .842 save percentage. However, he has dominated the Bruins in his career, going 4-1-0 in five starts with a shutout, a 0.79 GAA and a .968 save percentage.