(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames hit the road in Dallas tonight, and can expect to see a more potent Stars squad now that Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen have been cleared to return to play along with goalie Marty Turco.
You can see the game on TSN and TSN HD beginning at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt.
The 39-year-old Modano has been out since Dallas' season opener due to a rib injury, while Lehtinen has been limited to just a pair of games thanks to a groin ailment.
"We will have a few decisions to make on our lineup," said head coach Marc Crawford on Dallas' Web site. "It is great to get the type of experience that we're getting back into our lineup with Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen. Those guys are very excited about coming back into the lineup."
Dallas dropped both contests minus Turco with Alex Auld in net, including Saturday's 4-2 setback that saw the Stars lose for the first time this season when leading after two periods (5-1).
Auld allowed four goals on 33 shots, getting beaten three times in the third period. Steve Ott returned from a two-game suspension and scored, while Brian Sutherby also lit the lamp.
Brad Richards had an assist to run his points streak to five games. He has two goals and six helpers over the burst and six goals and six assists in 10 career games versus the Flames.
Both he and Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist in Dallas' 5-2 road win over Calgary on October 9. Auld made 21 saves in that game, giving the Stars a win in five of eight and seven of their last 11 versus the Flames.
The Flames won the first three contests of a recent five-game homestand, netting 16 goals in that span, but dropped the final two tests of the residency. They scored three goals in the two losses, getting beat, 3-1, by Detroit on Saturday.
Daymond Langkow provided the lone tally for the Flames, while Miikka Kiprusoff allowed two goals on 29 shots in defeat.
"It was a tight game. We got the lead, and the next two or three shifts we made mistakes," said Flames head coach Brent Sutter. "We didn't generate a whole lot offensively. We never put enough pucks towards the net. We still want to make the perfect plays in the offensive zone."
Kiprusoff is expected to start tonight after not facing Dallas in October. Instead, Curtis McElhinney made his first and only start so far, allowing four goals on 29 shots.
Kiprusoff is 6-10-2 with a 2.33 GAA in his career versus the Stars.
Calgary, though, has won three of its last four in Dallas.
Turco, who is 14-8-1 with a pair of ties and 1.79 goals-against average versus the Flames, should start tonight after practicing on Monday. The Stars also reassigned backup netminder Matt Climie to the AHL a day earlier.
Loui Eriksson, though, is questionable due to flu-like symptoms.
