Kane a question for Jets; Stars' Goligoski a go

DALLAS -- Winnipeg Jets wing Evander Kane did not skate Saturday morning in Dallas and coach Claude Noel called him a game-time decision for a contest with the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

"Yeah, it was just maintenance," Noel said of Kane missing the skate. "Game-time situation, we'll see how he's doing."

Kane was at the arena and was seen in the locker room in street clothes. But when asked if he thought Kane, who is currently tied for the team lead in goals with five would play, the Jets coach remained non-committal.

"We have to see," Noel said.

Should Kane not be able to go against the Stars, it's likely that Chris Thorburn, who did travel with the club, could take his place on Winnipeg's second line alongside Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. That's how that line looked during part of the morning skate.

Ondrej Pavelec will start his sixth straight game in net for the Jets.

Dallas will see Alex Goligoski return to the blue line after being a healthy scratch Thursday in a 5-1 win against the Calgary Flames. Goligoski, who has a minus-10 rating this season, was paired with Jordie Benn during morning skate.

First-year Stars coach Lindy Ruff also paired Trevor Daley with Sergei Gonchar, who had previously been paired with Goligoski for much of the season. Gonchar was paired with rookie Kevin Connauton on Thursday.

Ruff made his expectations for Goligoski in his return to the ice pretty clear Saturday morning.

"I want to see Alex's reaction to coming out and going back in. I also want to be able to have the matchup we want with him," Ruff said.

With Goligoski drawing back in, that means Connauton, who was acquired in an April trade with the Vancouver Canucks prior to the deadline for Derek Roy, will be a healthy scratch. Connauton made his NHL debut against Calgary two nights ago.

Ruff added that while Goligoski will be paired with Benn to start the game, he could also see some ice time alongside Daley as the Dallas coaches tinker with their defensive pairings.

"Yeah, we've got to look at a couple of possibilities tonight. So I think that Alex [Goligoski] may get some time with Daley. Those bottom four we're going to try either or most times through the game," Ruff said.

Kari Lehtonen will make his second straight start in net for Dallas.

Here are the projected lineups for both teams:

JETS

Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Devin Setoguchi

Evander Kane – Mark Scheifele – Blake Wheeler

Anthony Peluso – Olli Jokinen – Michael Frolik

Eric Tangradi – James Wright – Matt Halischuk

Dustin Byfuglien – Grant Clitsome

Tobias Enstrom – Zach Bogosian

Mark Stuart – Paul Postma

Ondrej Pavelec

Al Montoya

Injured: Jim Slater (undisclosed), Jacob Trouba (neck)

Scratches: Patrice Cormier, Adam Pardy, Chris Thorburn

STARS

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Rich Peverley

Ray Whitney – Cody Eakin – Alex Chiasson

Valeri Nichushkin - Shawn Horcoff – Erik Cole

Lane MacDermid – Vernon Fiddler – Antoine Roussel

Brenden Dillon – Stephane Robidas

Trevor Daley – Sergei Gonchar

Alex Goligoski – Jordie Benn

Kari Lehtonen

Dan Ellis

Scratches: Kevin Connauton

Suspended: Ryan Garbutt