"I'm hopeful," DeBoer said. "The plan all along was that he would get in a game, so we'll see at game-time."
If Marchment plays, the expectation is he will go on a line with Tyler Seguin and Max Domi. When GM Jim Nill acquired Domi and Evgenii Dadonov before the trade deadline, the thought was they could help Segun form a third line that could create points. But Seguin got hurt, and then Marchment got hurt, and the dream had to be put on hold. In the three games they played together, they had three goals and six assists, so something was clicking.
Now, they want to see if they can get that back.
"Our line has been one of those things where it seems like we've had a new guy every night," Domi said. "It's great to be able to play with other guys, but it's tough to build chemistry when you're always changing. We're certainly happy to have Mush back. I know he's a guy Seggy and I had good chemistry with. He's a big body who can shoot and he goes in front of the net and creates a lot of space. I'm looking forward to getting him back."
Marchment has 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 67 games. Seguin has 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games. Domi has 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in 19 games since joining the Stars. He had 49 points in 60 games with Chicago before the trade, so there is the potential to put three offensively dangerous players together and really create a challenge for the opposition.
On paper, it looks like a great situation.
"It does," DeBoer said. "The problem in this league is getting the 'on paper' onto the ice and healthy and ready to go. We only got a glimpse of that until Marchment went down, so we'll cross our fingers that come playoff time, we can actually get a real look at that."
Key Numbers
77
Miro Heiskanen has 73 points on the season, second most in franchise history for a defenseman. The record is 77 by Craig Hartsburg. Heiskanen also has 62 assists, which is most for a defenseman in one season in franchise history.
34
Stars froward Jason Robertson has 34 multi-point games this season. That's tied with Dino Ciccarelli (1981-82) for the most in franchise history in a single season.
29
Dallas leads the NHL in games that have been won by three or more goals at 29. Toronto is second at 25. Six of the team's past seven wins have been by three goals or more.
He said it
"I think it's important to be playing important hockey down the stretch. It makes it easier from a coaching perspective, because the guys are dialed in, and they know the importance of the game. I don't think it's ever a bad thing to be playing important games."
- Stars coach Pete DeBoer on the fact his team has gone on a five-game winning streak at a time when they are challenging Colorado for the division championship.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Dadonov
Marchment-Domi-Seguin
Dellandrea-Faksa-Glendening
Suter-Heiskanen
Lindell-Hakanpää
Harley-Miller
Oettinger
Wedgewood
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika
