Preview: Hurricanes at Stars

HURRICANES (24-21-7) at STARS (21-24-10)
2 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-SW, NHL.TV

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Hurricanes team scope

Goalie Cam Ward is expected to start for the Carolina Hurricanes after Eddie Lack returned from a concussion and lost 5-0 to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. Ward has won his past three starts and stopped 72 of 78 shots since the NHL All-Star break (Jan. 31). Carolina is five points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff position in the Eastern Conference but has four games in hand on the Boston Bruins. "We [have] to make sure we spend some time in the offensive zone, we [have] to make sure we manage the puck and get through the neutral zone," Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said Friday after practice. "And spend some quality times making grade A chances." Carolina leads the NHL in penalty killing at 86.5 percent but allowed two power-play goals against Washington. Peters said defenseman Matt Tennyson will be in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 23.

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Stars team scope

The Dallas Stars are trying to halt a four-game losing streak and are eight points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference after a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Dallas was tied with the Buffalo Sabres for the NHL's worst penalty kill (73.8 percent) and the power play was tied for 19th (17.4 percent). "Lot of times the power play has been the lack of ability to execute," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said after the loss to Ottawa. "We've had some real good power plays … but I didn't think we chose to shoot enough and that's hurt us." Dallas allowed its NHL-leading ninth shorthanded goal in the loss to Ottawa. Kari Lehtonen made 24 saves against Ottawa and has started the past three home games. Forward Patrick Eaves will play his 600th NHL game.

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Hurricanes projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Derek Ryan -- Lee Stempniak
Sebastian Aho -- Jordan Staal -- Elias Lindholm
Brock McGinn -- Victor Rask -- Teuvo Teravainen
Joakim Nordstrom -- Jay McClement -- Viktor Stalberg
Jaccob Slavin -- Justin Faulk
Ron Hainsey -- Brett Pesce
Noah Hanifin -- Matt Tennyson
Cam Ward
Eddie Lack
Scratched: Ty Rattie, Klas Dahlbeck, Ryan Murphy
Injured: Bryan Bickell (illness)

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Stars projected lineup

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

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Status report

The Stars assigned defenseman Julius Honka to the American Hockey League on Friday. … Dallas didn't practice Friday. … Carolina practiced at home before flying to Dallas.

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Who's hot

Lindholm has five assists in his past four games. ... Jamie Benn has nine points (six goals) in his past eight games.