Lehtonen to start in goal Friday

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Some notes from Thursday's practice session in Frisco.

Stars coach Marc Crawford said Kari Lehtonen would start in goal Friday against Phoenix and that Andrew Raycroft would get the nod in net when the Stars play at Colorado on Saturday.

Practice lineup looked basically the same today as last night's game although there were times that Steve Ott centered Krys Barch and Adam Burish.

 

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Pitkanen to miss trip to Florida


Defenseman Joni Pitkanen will not travel with the Canes to Florida for their game Friday against the Panthers, coach Paul Maurice said today.

Pitkanen suffered an upper-body injury Monday in the road game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was at the Canes' morning skate Wednesday and said he felt fine afterward, but left after the first period of Carolina's 7-2 win Wednesday night over the New York Islanders and did not return.

Maurice said defenseman Brett Carson would be recalled from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) while Pitkanen would continue to be evaluated.

"He took a hit in the game," Maurice said. "He passed all the tests but did not feel good at the time he got in the game."

Pitkanen played nine shifts and had 6:08 in ice time. He was on the ice when Jon Matsumoto scored late in the first period for a 2-0 lead.

Maurice said goaltender Cam Ward would play both games of the back-to-back set against the Panthers -- Friday in Sunrise, Fla., and then Saturday at the RBC Center.

 

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Brodeur says elbow has improved, but still isn't 100%. Johan Hedberg starts tonight.

 

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Lundqvist will start for Rangers tonight. So, it will be Lundqvist vs. Hedberg.

Callahan is out for Rangers.