#### **PANTHERS (22-7-4) at STARS (15-12-2)****Panthers projected lineup**Carter Verhaeghe -- Aleksander Barkov -- Maxim MaminJonathan Huberdeau -- Anton Lundell -- Anthony DuclairFrank Vatrano -- Joe Thornton -- Owen TippettRyan Lomberg -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Patric HornqvistMacKenzie Weegar -- Aaron EkbladGustav Forsling -- Radko GudasLucas Carlsson -- Brandon MontourSergei BobrovskyJonas Johansson***Scratched:** Olli Juolevi****Suspended:** Sam Bennett****Injured:** None****COVID-19 protocol:** Spencer Knight, Mason Marchment, Sam Reinhart***Stars projected lineup**Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Joe PavelskiDenis Gurianov -- Jamie Benn -- Tyler SeguinJoel Kiviranta -- Jacob Peterson -- Alexander RadulovMichael Raffl -- Radek Faksa -- Luke GlendeningRyan Suter -- John KlingbergEsa Lindell -- Miro HeiskanenThomas Harley -- Jani HakanpääBraden HoltbyJake Oettinger***Scratched:** Joel Hanley, [Thomas Harley](https://www.nhl.com/player/thomas-harley-8481581)* *, [Adam Scheel](https://www.nhl.com/player/adam-scheel-8482642)****Injured:** Tanner Kero (upper body)***Status report**Bennett, a center, is serving the second of a three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Montreal Canadiens forward Cedric Paquette on Jan. 1. ... Knight, a goalie, entered COVID-19 protocol Wednesday. ... Kero, a forward, is expected to miss his second game since being stretchered off the ice after a hit by Chicago Blackhawks forward Brett Connolly on Dec. 18. Kero is expected to return when the Stars host the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 12.
