DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars are currently on a five-game winless streak, which is rare territory in recent history. In fact, the Stars haven't lost six in a now in regulation since the 1995-96 team was outscored 28-13 in a six-game skid between Dec. 5 and Dec. 15, 1995.

The downturn started with a 6-4 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 2 at American Airlines Center. The Stars' last win was Dec. 31 when they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 to end 2013 on a high note.

In addition to the loss to the Canadiens, the Stars fell 5-1 to the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 4 to end a five-game homestand at 2-2-1. During a recent three-game road trip through New York City, Dallas lost 7-3 at the New York Islanders on Monday, 1-0 at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday and 3-2 at the New York Rangers on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

DALLAS -- Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk sat out the game Saturday against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center with a lower-body injury.

Datsyuk, second on Detroit with 32 points (15 goals), participated in morning skate on Saturday but called himself questionable for the game afterward. He did not practice on Friday in what was called a "maintenance day" by Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

With Datsyuk out, Luke Glendening, who has been centering the Red Wings' fourth line was the likely candidate to move up. Right wing Mikael Samuelsson, who hasn't played since Dec. 17 against the Anaheim Ducks, returned and skated on Detroit's fourth line.

DALLAS -- Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk participated in the morning skate Saturday in advance of the game against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

However, Datsyuk is a game-time decision.

"Yeah, we'll see tonight who plays," was all Red Wings coach Mike Babcock had to say about his lineup.

Datsyuk did not practice on Friday, an absence termed a "maintenance day" by Babcock.

If Datsyuk doesn't play, Luke Glendening, who has been centering Detroit's fourth line, might be in line to move up and Mikael Samuelsson would draw back into the lineup.

DALLAS -- Dallas Stars forward Ray Whitney is out for a second straight game Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Whitney, who sat out a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday due to illness, participated in the morning skate Thursday but was scratched.

DALLAS -- For the second straight game the Dallas Stars will be without a key veteran. Center Shawn Horcoff missed the morning skate Thursday with an illness and was ruled out for the game against the Montreal Canadiens at American Airlines Center.

"He's been bit with the flu bug so he won't play [Thursday]," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said.

Dustin Jeffrey, who filled in for Ray Whitney in the Stars' 3-2 win Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings (a game Whitney missed due to illness), will slide into Horcoff's spot on the left side of the fourth line.

Whitney went through the morning skate with no issue but there is some doubt about his availability for the game, so the Stars recalled forward Colton Sceviour from Texas of the American Hockey League.

Sceviour, who returned to the AHL on Dec. 28, had three goals and one assist in seven NHL games after being recalled Dec. 9. He leads the AHL with 21 goals.

DALLAS -- Dallas Stars forward Ray Whitney missed the morning skate due to illness and was scratched for the game against Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center.

Dustin Jeffrey, who was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 17, got the call on the Stars' fourth line alongside Shawn Horcoff and Vernon Fiddler. Jeffrey, a healthy scratch for the past eight games, last played Dec. 12 at the Nashville Predators.

Whitney, who has four goals and 15 points in 33 games, has played 16 straight games for Dallas since missing five games with a lower-body injury in November.

DALLAS -- After sustaining an upper-body injury late in a 6-5 shootout win Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues captain David Backes was scratched for a game Sunday afternoon with the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

Backes, who is tied for the Blues lead in points with 30 (16 goals), logged 20:42 of ice time in the win against the Blackhawks.

St. Louis had two players who missed the Chicago game return to the ice: center Derek Roy, who missed the game due to illness, and center Vladimir Sobotka who was out with an upper-body injury.

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars did not have a morning skate in advance of their game Sunday afternoon at American Airlines Center against the St. Louis Blues, but after practice Saturday, Stars coach Lindy Ruff talked about this being the latest measuring-stick game for his team.

"We know that they've been one of the top teams. They've been very consistent through the first 40 here, so we know we're going to have our hands full," Ruff said.

Dallas had three players absent from practice Saturday due to illness: center Cody Eakin, defenseman Alex Goligoski and forward Rich Peverley. Ruff said their status would be evaluated before the game, which starts at 5 p.m. local time.

But rookie wing Alex Chiasson, who missed the Stars' 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Friday with an illness, practiced Saturday and appears set to return.

"I'll go to the rink tomorrow and see how I feel," Chiasson told the Stars website Saturday. "You want to be part of this team. You want to be part of the success. It's tough sitting on the bike watching the guys play."

DALLAS -- With Dallas Stars veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar going on injured reserve with concussion-like symptoms, coach Lindy Ruff will plug in Aaron Rome, who has played in just three games this season, against the Nashville Predators on Friday at American Airlines Center.

Rome was activated from injured reserve earlier Friday.

"[Gonchar] is still not feeling quite right so we've got to get him through that, and when we do he'll start to exercise again," Ruff said of Gonchar, who last played Dec. 21.

Rome last played Dec. 16 against the Colorado Avalanche but has missed Dallas' past four games with a lower-body injury.

"I've played a few games and I've played on some good teams, so it's just about getting back in and getting comfortable and playing and being urgent," Rome said. "I want to be bringing an element that can help the team and fit in seamlessly."

Kari Lehtonen will start in net for the Stars for a fourth consecutive game.

DALLAS -- After the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Tuesday at American Airlines Center, one night after a 6-3 loss to the Avalanche at Pepsi Center, Stars coach Lindy Ruff is keeping his lines and defensive pairings the same for a visit Thursday from the Vancouver Canucks.

"We had a complete turnaround where we did good things with the puck. We had people coming back and I thought all lines paid real good attention to detail," Ruff said.

However, one change for Dallas will be in net where starter Kari Lehtonen returns to the crease after Dan Ellis started Tuesday and made 25 saves to earn his fourth win of the season.

Lehtonen has struggled recently, going 2-3-3 with a 3.40 goals-against-average and a .902 save percentage in his past eight starts. However, Ruff doesn't sound concerned.

"He doesn't like his numbers in the last few games and I think it's one area that he knows he needs to clean up," Ruff said. "We've seen him play spectacular even when outshot and outplayed. But I'd expect a lot tighter game by our team and he knows he wants to be better."