As expected, forward Patrick Sharp will return to the Dallas lineup tonight as the Stars take on the Edmonton Oilers at American Airlines Center. Sharp has missed the past 14 games due to a concussion.
"Feel good, feel healthy and strong," Sharp said. "I am past the injury, and I am ready to get back out there and play."
Where Sharp will slot in the lineup tonight is a mystery. With tonight's game starting at 6 p.m., the Stars held an optional skate, so there were no line rushes. Stars coach Lindy Ruff said the lines will be a work in progress.
"With Sharp coming back in we are going to have to go through a sorting out process [with the lines] and what's going to work," Ruff said. "Should Sharp be on the left, be on the right? Within a game, I am going to try different options. It might take a bit to get these guys in the right place."
Curtis McKenzie skated late this morning, so it appears he will be the healthy scratch at forward. Jamie Oleksiak is the expected healthy scratch on defense.
Kari Lehtonen, who was superb in Thursdays' 3-2 win over Colorado, is expected to get the start in goal. Lehtonen stopped 40 shots in last week's 3-2 win over the Oilers in Edmonton.
The Stars (7-6-5) come into tonight's game on a five-game points streak (3-0-2). They weren't sharp over the last 40 minutes in Thursday's win over the Avalanche and are looking to bounce back tonight.
"I think we will get a great effort," Ruff said. "I think the one thing this team has done is bounce back from disappointing parts of games. You can look at Winnipeg (8-2 loss on Nov. 8) and how we bounced back after that. We're prepared to bounce back."
Sharp returns as Stars face Oilers
Lehtonen expected to get the start in goal
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