The Dallas Stars should have defenseman Marc Methot back in the lineup on Friday when the club takes on the St. Louis Blues.

"Unless he has a setback, he is good to go Friday," head coach Ken Hitchcock said, according to Mark Stepneski of Inside Edge.

The 32-year-old has been out since Jan. 4 and has missed 41 games overall this season with a knee injury, but is on pace to return after missing the team's last 15 contests.

"I feel okay. It's been really long. I've never dealt with anything like this before, so it is just something I've had to be patient with," Methot said. "I'm here working my tail off every day, so I'm hoping that when I do come back, I'll be prepared and well-conditioned."

Methot has been limited to just 16 games - having gone pointless - since being plucked from the Ottawa Senators by the Vegas Golden Knights during the expansion draft before he was flipped to the Stars.

If practice lines stay true, Methot will slot in on the third pairing alongside Stephen Johns.

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