Thornton did not take part in an optional morning skate Thursday and missed practice Wednesday because of an undisclosed injury. Thornton also missed the morning skate Monday but played in a 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. The Sharks are going for their third straight win and fifth in six games (4-1-0) after a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). Dallas will try for a season sweep of their series against San Jose. The Stars won 4-3 on Nov. 8 and 3-2 on Friday, each time at American Airlines Center. The Stars have lost two straight, including 6-3 against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Wednesday
Players to watch
Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past six games. Sharks forward Timo Meier has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past five games.
They said it
"They're playing good. They're a good team. We know they're starting to go well, and in that rink they're really good." -- Stars center Jason Spezza on the Sharks "I think when I look at the two games, we played really well for large portions of both games. Just didn't do it for long enough. They're a quick-strike team. They've got some real high-end guys that can make you pay quickly if you make some mistakes or take your foot off the gas." -- Sharks coach Peter DeBoer on the Stars
The Stars did not hold a morning skate. Khudobin is expected to start in goal after Bishop played against the Ducks. … Hanzal will be scratched for Ritchie after playing three straight games. … If Thornton can't play, Chartier will move into the lineup.
Stat pack
Benn has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past six games. … Pavelski has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his past eight games. … Thornton needs two assists to tie Marcel Dionne (1,040) for 10th place on the NHL all-time list.
