The Dallas Stars will play their third preseason game this evening on the road against the St. Louis Blues.
Jason Spezza and Gemel Smith will both play in their first preseason game. For Spezza it’s a chance to get his legs moving after being held out the first two preseason games. It is Smith’s first real opportunity to impress the coaching staff in live game action.
Spezza is playing on a line with Mattias Janmark and Brett Ritchie, forming a group that we could likely see on opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Janmark and Spezza have strong chemistry from two seasons ago and have been working together on a line in practice.
“When you have good chemistry with a guy that doesn’t go away, even if he missed an entire season,” Spezza said. “It’s just that works well for us and it’s great to see him healthy. I watched him in that first (preseason) game and I’m looking forward to playing with him in a game again.”
Marc Methot and John Klinberg will be paired on defense, a pairing that Ken Hithcock has said isn’t a certainty for the regular season. Jamie Oleksiak will have an opportunity to continue impressing the coaches with his work on the right side and is paired with Esa Lindell.
Kari Lehtonen will start in goal and play the entire game. Mike McKenna will be the back-up.
Stars projected lineup
Janmark-Spezza-Ritchie
Dickinson-Hintz-Shore
Roussel-Faksa-Pitlick
Umberger-Smith-Elie
Methot-Klingberg
Lindell-Oleksiak
Hamhuis-Johns
Lehtonen
McKenna
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