Music: {allcanada} STARS (21-19-7) at SENATORS (19-18-9)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

{allcanada} STARS (21-19-7) at SENATORS (19-18-9)

Thursday, January 29, 2015

7:30 PM ET

STARS (21-19-7) at SENATORS (19-18-9)

TV: FS-SW, RDS2, TSN5

Season series: After trailing for 57-plus minutes, the Dallas Stars scored twice in the final 2:41 of regulation to force overtime, but lost to the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on Jan. 13. Defenseman John Klingberg scored twice, including the game-tying goal with 10 seconds remaining in the third period. Milan Michalek scored the game-winner for Ottawa.

Stars team scope: Dallas returned from the All-Star break on Tuesday, losing to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. Forward Valeri Nichushkin returned to the ice Wednesday for the first time since undergoing hip surgery on Nov. 18, according to The Dallas Morning News. "It's a great sign, but it's just one thing," general manager Jim Nill said, according to the newspaper. "He's cleared to skate, but it's very controlled, and he has a long way to go. We don't want to rush him, that's for sure." The Stars reassigned defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka to Texas of the American Hockey League, the team announced. This will be former Senators captain Jason Spezza's first game in Ottawa since getting traded in the offseason. Spezza spent the first 11 seasons of his career as a Senator. "I'll try to make it feel like just another road game even though it isn't," Spezza said, according to the Ottawa Sun.

Senators team scope: Defenseman Erik Karlsson didn't practice Wednesday. Coach Dave Cameron said it was a personal day, according to the Ottawa Sun, and Karlsson will return Thursday. Cameron confirmed goalie Robin Lehner will get the start, according to the team. The Senators trail the Boston Bruins by 10 points for a playoff spot. "You win five or six in a row you can put yourself (2-4) points back," goalie Craig Anderson told the Sun. "The key is just to keep getting points. Teams do it all the time." The Senators assigned forwards Colin Greening and Brad Mills to AHL Binghamton. Ottawa won its final game before the All-Star break, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Jan. 21. Karlsson scored two goals and has four goals in his past four games after scoring none in his previous 15.

Team Stats