Mike Ribeiro Officially Back Tonight For Dallas Stars

Mike Ribeiro told media after Tuesday's morning skate at American Airlines Center that he'll be a game time decision tonight. Glen Gulutzan, who is probably more than ready to get one of his top two centers back in the lineup, took any doubt out of the equation and said that he will be back tonight against the Anaheim Ducks.

"He's ready to go tonight," said Gulutzan. "He's had three days of skating and he's a pretty quick healer."

Ribeiro has 41 points in 39 career games against the Ducks.

In Anaheim's last visit to Dallas the Stars were playing Ribeiro with Steve Ott and Brenden Morrow primarily, and judging from the even strength faceoffs that night, matched that line more often than not with the Getzlaf/Perry trio regardless of zone start. Sheldon Souray and Stephane Robidas were out there with them for nearly every one.

Gulutzan countered the Selanne line (which that night had Bobby Ryan on it due to Koivu's absence) almost exclusively with the Jamie Benn trio (with Eriksson and Ryder). Tonight those wingers are with the center from the other matchup and Morrow and Benn are out, leaving Gulutzan shorthanded.

The lines are expected to look like this:

Eriksson-Ribeiro-Ryder
Ott-Wandell-Burish
Nystrom-Fiddler-Dvorak
Fraser-Dowell-Vincour

My guess is we'll see the Wandell primarily against Koivu and the ageless wonder Selanne, but Fiddler and company could get a crack at them as well depending on how it shakes out.

The Ducks went bowling yesterday, rather than practice, according to Anaheim media.

Adam Pardy and Mark Fistric are the scratches on defense. Lehtonen is in the Dallas net. I haven't heard otherwise so we'll go on assuming Hiller is in net for Anaheim.