Martin Hanzal will likely return to the Dallas Stars lineup tonight.
Even with Tyler Pitlick and Radek Faka doubtful, Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said on Sunday that the team would only need to re-call a forward if Hanzal wasn’t cleared to play against the Winnipeg Jets.
We don’t have an official update from the team, but each of the players (Curtis McKenzie, Justin Dowling, Brian Flynn, Roope Hintz, and Denis Gurianov) that would be considered for a call-up played for the Texas Stars last night in a 6-1 loss to the San Jose Barracuda.
That was the second end of a back-to-back for the AHL club, so if there was any chance of a call-up playing they likely would have been pulled from the lineup and flown to Dallas last evening.
Hanzal is trying to shake off a slow and frustrating start to this season. One of the Stars big offseason signings, he has just one goal — an empty netter — and has yet to pick up an assist.
It will be interesting to see how the Stars figured out the lines with Hanzal back in the lineup. It’s also highly likely Jamie Oleksiak will play forward, meaning their is potential for a line featuring two players 6-foot-6 or taller on the same unit.
Catch-up links
David Castillo has the recap from the Texas Stars loss in San Jose
Today’s schedule
The Stars play the Winnipeg Jets at 7:30 p.m.
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