DALLAS — With a win tonight in Dallas and the right result on the out-of-town scoreboard — a Los Angeles Kings victory over the Phoenix Coyotes — the Flames will find themselves in a playoff spot for the first time in 11 months.

Plus, the Flames would pull a little further away from the pack of teams also trying to slip into those last couple of positions in the Western Conference’s elite eight, such as Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota and Anaheim.

However, it may even be better for the Flames to win and remain outside of the top eight.

Say the Flames win, Phoenix beats the Kings in regulation and the Chicago Blackhawks fall to the New York Rangers, the Flames would be ninth, but just one point back of sixth spot.

Isn’t scoreboard watching fun?

As for news from the skate,there isn’t much.

The Flames will go with the same lineup as the last game, meaning the club which doesn’t have any extra forwards on the trip, will only scratch defenceman Anton Babchuk for the 11th straight game.

The Stars will be without both captain Brenden Morrow and veteran defenceman Sheldon Souray due to injury.

Miikka Kiprusoff is tagged to be in the Calgary goal, while Kari Lehtonen is due to be between the pipes for the Stars.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Stars combat the Calgary line of Olli Jokinen, Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla.

Since being put together, that trio has combined for 12 goals and 24 points in six games.

Jokinen is leading the way (6 goals, 3 assists), followed by Tanguay (2-6-8) and Iginla (4-3-7).

“Our big thing is to focus on our game, but with that line you have to be careful when you’re out there,” said Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “You have to make them play from their own end. If you give them transition through the neutral zone and offensive zone time, with their creativity, all three can score.”