"The second [power play] unit is more of a shooting unit, more traffic oriented, more shots from the points," said Hitchcock. "And we want to see if we can add to our transition. We feel like we are playing really well right now, but can we quicken up our transition? Can we get the puck into the forwards' hands a little quicker? It seems that is where this league has gone, and we have a player who plays like that, so we want to give him a chance to see if he can help us."
Jamie Oleksiak will be the scratch on defense.
Ben Bishop was the first goaltender off the ice, so he is expected to get the start in goal. Kari Lehtonen returned to the team after a personal leave and will be the backup tonight.
The Stars (11-10-1) come into tonight's game with three straight wins at home and eight wins in their last nine games at American Airlines Center.
Players wore yellow skate laces at this morning's skate in honor of Jere Lehtinen who will have his No. 26 retired in a pregame ceremony tonight.
"He's the highlight package for a coach to show how to play the right way," Hitchcock said of Lehtinen. "I've never seen a guy in my coaching career that I never coached. I basically asked him how he was and that's all the coaching I ever did. You didn't have to tell him how to play, you didn't have to tell him how to compete, you didn't have to tell him where to go on the ice. His instincts -- both defensively and offensively -- were excellent. He was the instant fix. When somebody was struggling we played him with him and helped him along."
The Lehtinen jersey retirement ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.
