Preview: Predators at Stars

PREDATORS (12-9-4) at STARS (10-11-6)
8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-TN, NHL.TV

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Predators Team Scope

Defenseman Adam Pardy will make his season debut for the Nashville Predators. Pardy, 32, began the season with Milwaukee of the American Hockey League before he was signed with Nashville on Nov. 30. "It's rewarding, when you start the year (in the AHL) and after you go through a year like last year," said Pardy, who played 23 games last season with the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers. "To get back to the NHL and find a role again, it's been a difficult road. I've been taking it each day at a time, but I'm happy for this chance." Nashville is 3-7-2 on the road this season and 1-6-1 over the past three seasons at American Airlines Center. "We're going to need a really good game, recently we haven't walked away with many points in this building," coach Peter Laviolette said. "So we need to be better than what we've been here." Goaltender Pekka Rinne will start, looking for the 250th League win. He has won four of his past five starts and stopped 25 shots in a 4-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

Stars Team Scope

Center Jason Dickinson will make his season debut for the Dallas Stars after being recalled from Texas of the AHL on Tuesday. Dickinson made his NHL debut last season on April 7 and scored against the Colorado Avalanche in his only appearance. "Feeling is all the same, just excited," Dickinson said. "I'm going to be a little nervous when I go out there, but I'm sure after a little while it'll feel normal." The Stars are shuffling their defense after Julius Honka sustained an upper-body injury in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Patrik Nemeth and Jamie Oleksiak will play Thursday, and Jordie Benn is a healthy scratch for the third time this season. Left wing Curtis McKenzie has goals in back-to-back games being scratched in six of the prior seven games. "Things are going well with our line, we've been able to connect since I came back [in the lineup]," McKenzie said. "When you sit out that much, it makes it urgent for you to come back and play well." Kari Lehtonen is the likely starter in goal after making 18 saves against the Flames. Left wing Jamie Benn is one goal away from 200 in his NHL career.

Predators projected lineup

Viktor Arvidsson -- Ryan Johansen -- Craig Smith
Filip Forsberg -- Mike Ribeiro -- Kevin Fiala
Colin Wilson -- Mike Fisher -- James Neal
Frederick Gaudreau -- Calle Jarnkrok -- Austin Watson
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Roman Josi -- Matt Irwin
Yannick Weber -- Adam Pardy
Pekka Rinne
Marek Mazanec
Scratched:Reid Boucher, Petter Granberg
Injured:Anthony Bitetto (upper body), Ryan Ellis (upper body), Miikka Salomaki (lower body), Colton Sissons (upper body)

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Stars projected lineup

Jamie Benn -- Tyler Seguin -- Brett Ritchie
Antoine Roussel -- Radek Faksa -- Jason Spezza
Lauri Korpikoski -- Jason Dickinson -- Patrick Eaves
Curtis McKenzie -- Cody Eakin -- Devin Shore
Esa Lindell -- John Klingberg
Patrik Nemeth -- Jamie Oleksiak
Dan Hamhuis -- Stephen Johns
Kari Lehtonen
Antti Niemi
Scratched: Adam Cracknell, Jordie Benn
Injured: Mattias Janmark (knee), Ales Hemsky (hip), Jiri Hudler (illness), Johnny Oduya (lower body), Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms), Julius Honka (upper body)

Status report

Hudler and Oduya took part in the Stars optional morning skate, and each could return to the lineup this weekend. … Ellis skated with Nashville Thursday morning and is getting closer to a return.

Who's hot

Ribeiro has five assists in his past four games. … McKenzie has scored in back-to-back games.