Dallas Stars Bringing Remi Elie Into Lineup Tonight

The Dallas Stars take on the Florida Panthers tonight from Sunrise. Their offensive lineup will look significantly different than it has in the recent past.

With playoff hopes struggling to stay alive, the Dallas Stars are in need of a serious resurgence.

After letting a win slip away on Thursday night, the Stars packed up for a two-game road trip that begins tonight in the Sunshine State with their playoff hopes once again on life support. They will square off with the Florida Panthers, who are very much still in their own respective playoff race.

The Stars will have company for the trip, though. Their annual fathers trip will run throughout this two-game stretch. Each member of the Stars gets a chance to invite their father from near or far along for the road trip and hang out with them throughout.

In tonight’s case, the Dallas Stars’ fathers will be looking at a significantly different lineup on offense. Antoine Roussel and Adam Cracknell are two regular starters who will be missing from the lineup tonight. Cracknell is still recovering from an ankle injury and Roussel is on the IR for 6-8 weeks with a hand injury that he suffered on Thursday.

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These injuries go hand-in-hand with the moves Dallas made near the trade deadline this past week. By sending Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks and Lauri Korpikoski to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Stars now have some significant holes in their offensive lineup.

Amidst all of the injuries, there is a significant opportunity for younger players to step up and step in. Remi Elie is taking that opportunity tonight.

Elie, a second round pick of the Stars in 2013, has eight goals and 25 points in 50 games this year in the AHL with the Texas Stars.

It will be his NHL debut, and it might be the perfect time for the Stars to get some new blood in the lineup. With playoff hopes fading fast, bringing in younger players will give Dallas a chance to get more experience for their prospects in preparation for next season.

Tonight’s game will not be an easy win for the Dallas Stars. They face a team who is desperate for points and just narrowly outside the playoff picture. They will need to forget Thursday’s collapse and get an early jump tonight in Florida.

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This will be the second and final meeting between the Stars and Panthers this year. Florida won the first meeting by a score of 3-1 back on New Year’s Eve. We’ll see if the Stars can turn the table tonight. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.