"He's a good skater, heavy on the puck," Ruff said. "I am pretty sure he'll be excited. He plays a lot like [Roussel]. Very determined player on the forecheck and a very hard player to play against."
Elie is in second year of pro hockey. He ranks sixth on the Texas Stars in scoring this season with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 50 games. He's played both sides of special teams for Texas this season.
"It's gone pretty good," said Elie. "I've got more confidence, and I am playing big minutes there. I just have to keep doing what I am doing."
The Stars have another injury concern with forward Ales Hemsky, who returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time since undergoing hip surgery in late October. He took a puck off the foot while on the penalty kill last night and missed practice Friday. Ruff thinks Hemsky will be good to go for Saturday.
"He had further tests this morning, and everything looks negative," Ruff said. "There's a little bit of concern about whether the swelling will allow him to get his foot in the boot and be able to play. Tomorrow will bring that answer. He feels like it is going to be OK, but he's not really happy with me for putting him on the penalty kill."
Forward Adam Cracknell, who has missed four games with a lower-body injury, continues to practice and is closing in on a return. He's not expected to play Saturday, but could be ready for the next game.
"Hopefully, we'll get him in Monday," Ruff said. "That's what we are looking at."
Dads hit the road with Stars
Fathers of several Stars players will travel with the team on the two-game road trip to Florida (Saturday) and Washington (Monday). Thirteen players will be bringing their fathers, while others will be accompanied by a relative or someone else who helped them along the way to the NHL.
"I look at it like additional coaching help, where you've got the fathers along, and they are pretty good at evaluating their son's play," said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. "It's always a good time. I've always thought you get a little more out of your team when you have the fathers along. It's a special moment and a payback time for all the time they got their son to the rink."
Nine Stars staff members will have fathers, relatives, friends or mentors on the trip as well.
Music video of Faksa's move gets a laugh out of Lindy
Don't think players and coaches aren't paying attention to some of those videos the Stars roll out on the scoreboard during games at American Airlines Center. Case in point: Radek Faksa's move last night that led to his goal in the second period. Faksa avoided a hip check by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield by jumping up and sliding along the boards. He then took a pass from Patrick Sharp and scored.
