Stars aim to get back on track in final meeting with Predators

The Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators tonight for the fifth and final time this regular season as they open a three-game homestand at American Airlines Center (7:30 p.m. CT; FS-SW; KTCK).
The Stars have picked up six of eight points in the first four games of the season series, recording a 2-0-2 record against their Central Division rival.
With the Stars coming off a tough road trip in which they went 1-3-1, including back-to-back shutout losses in the last two games, a tilt against a division rival like Nashville, a team the Stars have played well against this season in some ramped-up games, comes at a good time.

"The division games, I think, we've gotten up here for those games since January," said Stars coach Jim Montgomery. "I think it is important we continue that, not only for the standings and the playoffs, but because of the rivalry that has started here with Nashville."
Anton Khudobin will get the start in goal tonight against the Predators. He is 2-0-1 in three starts against Nashville with a 1.33 goals against average and a .964 save percentage, stopping 108 of 112 shots.

As for the rest of the lineup after using a configuration of 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Saturday's game against Carolina, Montgomery will go back to the standard lineup of 12 forwards and six defensemen tonight, and he'll juggle the forward lines.
Roope Hintz will play left wing with Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, while Jamie Benn will skate with center Radek Faksa and Andrew Cogliano. The other lines will have Jason Dickinson centering Mattias Janmark and Jason Spezza, and Joel L'Esperance centering Valeri Nichushkin and Brett Ritchie.
The defense will be the usual top six of Esa Lindell-John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen-Roman Polak, and Jamie Oleksiak-Taylor Fedun.
Connor Carrick and Julius Honka are the expected healthy scratches.
The Stars (29-24-5) come into tonight's game four points behind St. Louis for third place in the Central Division and four points ahead of the ninth-place spot in the Western Conference, which is currently held by Colorado

Bishop, Comeau both skate

Stars goaltender Ben Bishop, who will miss his sixth straight game with an upper-body injury, was on the ice and taking shots before the team's optional skate this morning at American Airlines Center.
Bishop was back on the ice after not skating either Sunday or Monday.
"It's the best he's felt," Montgomery said. "Very positive steps for us."
Forward Blake Comeau, who will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury, took the ice after this morning's optional skate. It's the first time he's been on the ice since the injury.
"We have better expectations that he could be a player Thursday night," Montgomery said.

Opposition watch: Nashville Predators

The Predators (34-22-5) are coming off a 5-1 loss at Vegas on Saturday. The Predators were outshot 50-30, including 24-7 in the second period, in losing for the fourth time in the last five games (1-3-1).
The Predators, who are in second place in the Central Division, trail first-place Winnipeg by three points and have played two more games.
Pekka Rinne is the likely starting goaltender for Nashville. Forward Craig Smith did not practice Monday and did not take part in Tuesday morning's optional skate at the AAC.

Fast facts

Tonight's game

Who:Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars
Where:American Airlines Center
When: 7:30 p.m.
TV:Fox Sports Southwest
Radio:The Ticket 1310 AM/96.7 FM

Stars projected lineup

Roope Hintz - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov
Jamie Benn - Radek Faksa - Andrew Cogliano
Mattias Janmark - Jason Dickinson - Jason Spezza
Valeri Nichushkin - Joel L'Esperance - Brett Ritchie
Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen - Roman Polak
Jamie Oleksiak - Taylor Fedun
Anton Khudobin
Landon Bow
Scratched: Connor Carrick, Julius Honka
Injured:Blake Comeau (upper body), Ben Bishop (upper body), Tyler Pitlick (wrist surgery), Martin Hanzal (back), Stephen Johns (post-traumatic headaches), Marc Methot (knee surgery)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala - Kyle Turris - Colton Sissons
Ryan Hartman - Nick Bonino - Craig Smith
Brian Boyle - Calle Jarnkrok - Rocco Grimaldi
Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm - P.K. Subban
Dan Hamhuis - Yannick Weber
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Frederick Gaudreau, Cody McLeod, Matt Irwin
Injured:Miikka Salomaki (upper body)
Suspended: Austin Watson
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.