Stars shuffle lines ahead of meeting with sizzling Jets

Coach Jim Montgomery will split up his top line as the Dallas Stars take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight at American Airlines Center.
Jamie Benn will move off the top line and skate on the left wing with center Radek Faksa and right wing Blake Comeau. Mattias Janmark will move up to take Benn's spot on the top trio with Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov.
Montgomery noted some of it has to do with how the Stars want to match up with the Jets.

"And I just thought that Jamie worked really hard last game and putting him with two other hard workers will be able to give us that identity we are looking for tonight," Montgomery said.
The line of Andrew Cogliano, Jason Dickinson, and Jason Spezza from last game will stay together. Denis Gurianov, who was
called up from the AHL
due to
injuries to Tyler Pitlick and Valeri Nichushkin
, will play left wing on a line with center Roope Hintz and right wing Brett Ritchie.
This is the third recall this season for Gurianov, who has three points (one goal, two assists) in 11 games for Dallas. He has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 29 games with Texas in the AHL. Since being sent back to the AHL in early January, he's been given more responsibility.

"I started to play penalty kill there," Gurianov said. "Played power play and 5-on-5. The coach gave me some more time. I appreciate that."
There will be no changes on defense tonight for the Stars, who are expected to roll with the same pairs as last game: Esa Lindell-John Klingberg; Miro Heiskanen-Roman Polak; Connor Carrick-Taylor Fedun. Julius Honka will be the healthy scratch.
Ben Bishop gets the start in goal tonight.
"Bishop's played two good games against Winnipeg already," Montgomery said. "And he's our guy."
The Stars (23-21-4) will try to snap a four-game losing streak tonight. This is the final game before their bye week and the All-Star break, so they are trying to make the most of it.
"We want to have a really good effort and start the game really strong," Montgomery said. "We want to make Winnipeg defend against a really strong forecheck. That's the message to start the game and to build upon that as we go through the game."

Opposition watch: Winnipeg Jets

The Jets (31-14-2) are coming off a 5-1 win at Nashville on Thursday. Brendan Lemieux scored twice, and Connor Hellebuyck made 37 saves for the Jets, who won their fourth straight game and extended their Central Division lead over the Predators to four points.
Hellebuyck will get the start in goal tonight. Defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Ben Chiarot and forward Nikolaj Ehlers all are out with injuries for the Jets.
Tonight's game takes the Jets into their bye week and the All-Star break.

Stat pack

Tonight's game

Who:Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars
Where:American Airlines Center
When: 6 p.m.
TV:Fox Sports Southwest Plus
Radio:The Ticket 1310-AM/96.7-FM

#

Stars projected lineup

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

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Patrik Laine -- Bryan Little -- Jack Roslovic
Mathieu Perreault -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Brendan Lemieux -- Andrew Copp -- Mason Appleton
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Joe Morrow -- Sami Niku
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched: Nic Petan, Cameron Schilling
Injured: Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body), Ben Chiarot (lower body)
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.