Preview: Stars at Coyotes

STARS (14-14-7) at COYOTES (11-18-5)
9 p.m. ET; FS-A, FS-SW PLUS, NHL.TV

Stars team scope

The Dallas Stars held their morning skate at their practice facility in Frisco, Texas, because mechanical problems on the plane left them at the airport for nearly three hours. "It's only as big an issue as you make it," coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's just something you deal with and move on. We've had a lot of rest, so it's a little bit of an inconvenience." Forward Tyler Seguin arrived to Arizona on Monday and skated on his own. Forward Patrick Sharp (concussion) skated but will miss his 11th straight game. "He's close … no set timetable but I think he's sooner than later," Ruff said. "It could be as soon as the next game, it could be two or three games." Sharp turned 35-years-old Tuesday. Forward Antoine Roussel was placed on injured reserve, allowing the Stars to recall Jason Dickinson from Texas of the American Hockey League so they could dress 12 forwards. Roussel's move is retroactive to Dec. 20, so he could play against the Colorado Avalanche at American Airlines Center on Thursday. Goalie Kari Lehtonen will start for the Stars, who are 4-9-4 on the road.

Coyotes team scope

The Arizona Coyotes have lost four straight, three in a row to open a five-game homestand, and are 3-8-3 in their past 14 games. "We can't let this slip away," forward Jamie McGinn said. "We know we're behind the 8-ball and we've got to get going in the right direction. It comes down to how we work as a team." Defenseman Jakob Chychrun will return after missing one game with a concussion. The Coyotes will be without forward Ryan White (lower body) for a second straight game, although he took part in the morning skate Tuesday. Coach Dave Tippett said he could go with seven defensemen against the Stars like he did in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 23. "We'll look at both sides of it before the game and decide," Tippett said. Defenseman Alex Goligoski, acquired by Arizona in a trade with Dallas on June 16 and signed to a five-year contract reportedly worth $27.375 million five days later, will play his first game against the Stars. "Once you get through this game, you move on," Tippet said. "He's going to be a fixture here on our team for a long time. Goalie Mike Smith will start for the Coyotes.

Stars projected lineup

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

Coyotes projected lineup

Jamie McGinn -- Jordan Martinook -- Radim Vrbata
Brendan Perlini -- Peter Holland -- Shane Doan
Tobias Rieder -- Martin Hanzal -- Anthony Duclair
Lawson Crouse -- Christian Dvorak
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Connor Murphy
Alex Goligoski -- Tony DeAngelo
Jakob Chychrun -- Michael Stone
Luke Schenn
Mike Smith
Louis Domingue

Scratched:Kevin Connauton, Josh Jooris
Injured:Max Domi (hand surgery), Brad Richardson (broken leg), Ryan White (lower body)

Status report

Eakin will serve the final game of his four-game suspension. Though Ruff said Johns is an option after he missed a game with a lower-body injury, he is expected to sit out. Seguin will skate between Benn and Spezza, with Dickinson centering Cracknell and Hudler.

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Who's hot

Spezza has a goal and two assists in his past two games. Klingberg has three assists during a three-game point streak.