Feeling 'really good,' Dickinson ready to return vs. Kings

Stars forward Jason Dickinson came off the ice after Wednesday's practice and the Make-A-Wish North Texas scrimmage against Anderson McDuffie and The EKG's at StarCenter Frisco and said he was ready to return from his back injury.
A short time later, Stars coach Jim Montgomery confirmed that Dickinson would be in the lineup Thursday night when the Stars take on the Los Angeles Kings at American Airlines Center.

Dickinson has been out the past three and a half weeks with the injury, missing a total of 11 games. It's been a frustrating stretch for the 23-year-old forward who is in his first full season in the NHL.
"It sucks, obviously. You never want to miss games. It's been like three and a half weeks now of just watching. It just sucks," Dickinson said. "I want to be out there. I want to play. It's a big year for me, and it sucks missing time. But you take advantage of the opportunity to get fresh and get back healthy."

Dickinson suffered the back injury in the Dec. 22 game at Minnesota. Two crosschecks to the back were the culprits.
"I took a crosscheck, and it just didn't feel right. I thought it was a little weird, got back out on the ice, took another crosscheck in the same spot and was like, 'This is too painful,'" he said. "There was a (video) clip where I fell, and people thought that's what it was. I just fell because I was so tired and so dead and my back was hurting me at that point."
Dickinson resumed skating in early January and began practicing with the team over the weekend. The Stars had been targeting Thursday as a return, so everything is on schedule.
"I feel really good," Dickinson said.
Dickinson has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 34 games this season while averaging 12:40 of ice time per game. He's played primarily on the fourth line and has logged time on the penalty kill, where he has been effective.
"I think I've been doing a pretty good job," Dickinson said. "I've been doing a good job on the penalty kill, solid on the faceoffs. I've just got to keep playing on the right side of pucks and contribute offensively as best I can."
Montgomery said Dickinson has been missed, especially on the defensive side of the puck.
"(He brings) versatility through our lineup but especially being able to matchup at home and on the road," Montgomery said. "I think before he got injured, he and Radek Faksa were our two best defensive centers down low, and we've missed him. I think our chances for against have gone up while he's been out of the lineup. You don't have the flexibility to run the two of them when you want to."

Montgomery said he plans on playing Dickinson at center Thursday against the Kings. Nothing is carved in stone, but the Stars coach is considering playing Dickinson with newly acquired forward Andrew Cogliano and Jason Spezza.
"I am looking at Spezza going on the right wing with him and Cogliano to have a lot of speed with Spezza's creativity," Montgomery said. "That's what I am looking at right now, could change my mind."
One other note from practice, both Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov did not take part in Wednesday's team practice. It was a maintenance day for both players. But both are expected to play against the Kings.
"They'll be players tomorrow," Montgomery said.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski has covered the Stars for DallasStars.com since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.