The 31-year-old forward has been out since Feb. 21 because of a back injury. He had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 38 games last season, his first with the Stars. Hanzal will try to help the Stars win a season-high fourth straight game. The Sharks are trying to win their third straight game in the first of a back-to-back set. They play the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Saturday.
Players to watch
Sharks forward Joe Pavelski has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past five games. He has 18 goals in 29 games this season after scoring 22 in 82 games last season. Stars goalie Ben Bishop is 3-0-0 with a 1.08 goals-against average and .960 save percentage in his past four games (three starts).
They said it
"It'll come. There's lots of hockey left. Usually when you get one or two they come in bunches." -- Sharks forward Evander Kane, who has no goals in his past eight games "His hockey sense and his presence on the ice I think is going to have an immediate impact on the depth of our team." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery on forward Martin Hanzal
Jones will make his fourth straight start, equaling his season high. … To make room for Hanzal on the active roster, forward Gemel Smith was placed on waivers Wednesday and claimed by the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Stat pack
Thornton will play in his 1,514th NHL game, tying Steve Yzerman for 18th place on the all-time list. He has 1,038 career assists, two behind Marcel Dionne for 10th place. … Shore scored two goals in the Stars' 4-3 win against the Sharks at American Airlines Center on Nov. 8, including the game winner at 14:13 of the third period.
