Focused on making playoffs, Stars face Jets to open critical trip

The Dallas Stars continue their push to nail down a playoff spot when they take on the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place tonight (7 p.m. CT; FS-SW; KTCK). The game kicks off a crucial four-game road trip for the Stars, who are coming off a 1-3-1 homestand
The Stars come into tonight's game riding a four-game road winning streak and have victories in five of their last six games away from home. They'll face a tough test in the Jets, who lead the Central Division and have won five of their last six games overall. The Jets also are a team the Stars could face in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"It is in the back of the mind, but getting into the playoffs is more in the front of our minds right now," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said.

The Stars (38-31-6-82 points) are in the first wild-card spot, one point ahead of Colorado, which holds the second wild-card position, and three points ahead of both Minnesota and Arizona, who are sitting just outside the playoffs.
Montgomery will juggle his forward lines for tonight's game. Tyler Seguin will center Jamie Benn and Jason Dickinson and Roope Hintz will center the second line with Mattias Janmark and Alexander Radulov on his wings. Andrew Cogliano will move to the third line with center Radek Faksa and right wing Blake Comeau. The fourth line is expected to be Valeri Nichushkin, Justin Dowling, and Brett Ritchie.

"I don't know what [Winnipeg] is going to want for matchups, and I think I have three lines that can play against anyone with the lines set up the way they are," Montgomery said.
Jason Spezza is expected to be scratched for the third time in the last four games. Joel L'Esperance will sit out after playing in 12 straight games.
"He wasn't playing a 200-foot game anymore with purpose. I didn't think he was winning as many battles," Montgomery said of L'Esperance. "He's been really good for us and generated a lot of offense; we just want him to sit and watch a game and reset and realized that sometimes we make the game bigger than it needs to be."
There will be no changes on the defense tonight with these expected pairs: Esa Lindell-John Klingberg; Miro Heiskanen-Roman Polak; Taylor Fedun-Ben Lovejoy.
Ben Bishop will get the start in goal for the Stars. Bishop is 6-1-0 in his last seven starts with a 0.78 goals-against average and .973 save percentage.

Zuccarello, Pitlick take part in pregame skate

Forwards Mats Zuccarello (broken arm) and Tyler Pitlick (wrist surgery) both took part in this morning's pregame skate with the Stars. Montgomery said that Pitlick is closer to returning than Zuccarello, but exactly when is still up in the air.
"It's too early to say," Montgomery said. "As soon as he is able to win stick battles consistently in practice and also skate the way he can and play with pace, then he'll go in the lineup."
Pitlick, who has been out of the lineup since Jan. 19, underwent wrist surgery on Feb. 5 with a timeframe for a return put at eight weeks.
"I feel good," Pitlick said. "It's been a while. It's definitely exciting. I am getting closer and closer. It's a great time to be getting back, and hopefully I can step in the lineup soon."

#

Opposition watch: Winnipeg Jets

The Jets (45-26-4-94 points) clinched a playoff berth with a 5-0 win over Nashville on Saturday. The Jets also extended their lead to four points over the Predators to four points in the race for first place in the Central Division. Kyle Connor scored three goals, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 33 shots for Winnipeg, which has won five of its last six games (5-1-0).
Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien skated this morning but remains out with a lower-body injury. Hellebuyck is the expected starter in goal tonight.

Fast facts

Tonight's game

Who:Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets
Where: Bell MTS Place
When: 7 p.m.
TV:Fox Sports Southwest
Radio: The Ticket 1310-AM/96.7-FM

Stars projected lineup

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

Jets projected lineup

Nikolaj Ehlers - Mark Scheifele - Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor - Kevin Hayes - Patrik Laine
Brandon Tanev - Adam Lowry - Bryan Little
Mathieu Perreault - Andrew Copp - Matt Hendricks
Nathan Beaulieu - Jacob Trouba
Ben Chiarot - Sami Niku
Dmitry Kulikov - Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Scratched:Par Lindholm, Bogdan Kiselevich, Jack Roslovic, Joe Morrow
Injured:Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), Josh Morrissey (upper body), Laurent Brossoit (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.