GAME PREVIEW (7:30 AM CDT)

The new-look Dallas Stars begin their preseason slate tonight with a home game against the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center. Game time is 6 p.m. CDT.

New head coach Lindy Ruff indicated on Friday that the team may use much of its projected NHL lineup in tonight's game, in order to try and set a winning-focused tone right from the outset.

Up front, Jamie Benn will play left wing on the top line with new arrival Tyler Seguin at center and Erik Cole on the right wing. The second line will consist of Cody Eakin, Alex Chiasson and Ray Whitney. All of the team's new forwards, with the exception of Rich Peverley (recovering from a procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat) are expected to dress tonight. That includes 2013 first-round pick Valeri Nichushkin, who scored a slick goal in yesterday's Green-White scrimmage in Fort Worth.

On the blueline, Ruff plans to take a look at several prospects tonight. Top defense prospect Jamie Oleksiak is expected to play tonight, along with Swedish prospect John Klingberg (who is slated to return to Sweden after the game to re-join Frölunda) and Kevin Connauton.

In goal, veteran starter Kari Lehtonen will not dress for the opener. Veteran backup Dan Ellis and Texas Stars netminder Cristopher Nilstorp are expected to be the goaltenders.

Yesterday, Team Green defeated Team White by a 5-3 score in the scrimmage at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Seguin, Oleksiak (penalty shot) Ryan Garbutt, Klingberg and Shawn Horcoff (empty net) scored for the winning side. Nichushkin, Cameron Gaunce (penalty shot) and Brett Richie tallied for Team White.

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