Back in win column, Stars look to take care of business in Minnesota

The Stars held an optional practice in Frisco on Wednesday and the atmosphere was more upbeat than in recent days after Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia, which snapped the team's eight-game losing streak.
Tuesday's win wasn't pretty, but it was a much-needed win for the Stars who had gone 0-4-2 on a six-game road trip and then dropped the first two games of the just concluded three-game homestand.

"I didn't think about the streak, and I don't think the players thought about the streak," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "You looked at the gap, and we got two points in a game that we played that wasn't near as strong as the first two games we played at home (against Boston and Vancouver). We played awful well in long stretches in those two games. Yesterday, we didn't play that well and won the hockey game. Our goaltender was good, and we scored timely goals. You are thinking that this is kind of payback for as well as we played in both the other games."
The win was the first for the Stars since March 9, a span of almost three weeks.
"I think it gives us all confidence," said goaltender Kari Lehtonen. "I think we need to keep grinding and keep playing-that's all we can do. It's our job to go out there and play our hearts out, and we just need to keep doing that."
The win gave the Stars a glimmer of hope in a still steep uphill climb to get into a playoff spot. The Stars gained one point in the playoff race, pulling to within five points of the second wild-card spot, which is currently held by Anaheim, with five games remaining. They also have to pass ninth-place Colorado, which has a four-point lead on the Stars.
"I think what got everybody excited is that Anaheim lost in regulation (last night) and we'll see what happens today in Colorado (which hosts Philadelphia)," Hitchcock said. "We've probably got to look around us more than we probably wanted to, but if we get some good news tonight, then it sets the table where we can really do some damage.
"You've got to hope for that and see if we can get on the ice tomorrow and take care of business."

The Stars play at Minnesota Thursday, the first game of a home-and-home series with the Wild who are in third place in the Central Division. It will be a stiff challenge for the Stars who likely need to win out to make the playoffs.
"It's their depth up front," Hitchcock said. "They're a veteran-laden hockey club that is deep down the middle. They are four lines deep, have a veteran fourth line that manages the game. They've got weight and size up front. They are a tough opponent. They just don't give you anything. You've got to have extreme competitive patience if you are going to beat them."
Hitchcock said he would make some lineup changes for Thursday's game that will involve bringing in some different players and moving players around.
"We're going to make some changes. We'll make some changes. That's all," he said. "We've got to get better combinations. We'll make some changes for tomorrow."
He also said he wouldn't go with the configuration of 11 forwards and 7 defensemen he used in Tuesday's win over the Flyers due to having a few defensemen dinged up.
"We got the health report on a couple of guys today and they'll go full-go tomorrow, so that will bring us back to 12 and 6," he said.
Also, goaltender Ben Bishop, who has missed the last four games with a knee injury, skated before practice in full gear. But Hitchcock said Bishop's status has not changed.
"No, middle of next week give me a call then," he said. "The same stuff. He's in a guarded situation stopping pucks, so it's Lehtonen's] net until the weekend here, and then we'll see starting Monday where Ben is at."
*This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.*
***Mark Stepneski** is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow him on Twitter **[@StarsInsideEdge*.