"Just talked to Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk in the pressbox here, and he said that Jamie Benn was released from the hospital today after a Sunday appendectomy, and that everything went as well as possible. Nieuwendyk said he was told the operation was very clean, so the Stars are hoping for the best.

When asked if there's a chance Benn might play in the All-Star Game Jan. 29 in Ottawa , Nieuwendyk said: ``Yeah, I think that's definitely a possibility. I talked to (Brendan Shanahan) and I think the NHL will allow us a little more time to see. But, yeah, I think today was definitely encouraging in that regard.''"