Dallas Stars News

In a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff matchup, Oettinger will tend the twine against the Minnesota Wild in a pivotal battle for home-ice advantage. Oettinger did not need to be spectacular in his previous outing, allowing three goals on 20 shots (.850 SV%), but managed to salvage a 4-3 overtime win over the Calgary Flames. The Minnesota-born Oettinger has been excellent in his career against his hometown team, including posting a 2.31 GAA and .929 SV% in three meetings this season (1-1-1). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -123 home favourites against a Wild team that has scored four or more goals in four consecutive games (4-0-0).

With Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) returning from a one-game absence, Kiviranta will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Kiviranta had a career-high 16 goals in 79 games last season, but has been limited to only three goals and six assists through 46 games this season.

Myers has not played the previous three games for the Stars, but will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 36-year-old Myers has two assists in 11 games since joining the Stars at the trade deadline. Alex Petrovic will exit to lineup to accommodate Myers' return.

Oettinger is coming off one of his best performances of the season, saving all 22 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets, and will hope to continue that excellence as the Stars battle to secure home-ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. That said, Oettinger has been inconsistent lately, posting a 3.07 GAA and .854 SV% in his last five appearances (2-2-0). The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -238 home favourites against a Calgary Flames team coming off a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Faksa did not play in Czechia's final two games at the Olympics and has been sidelined for the Dallas Stars ever since. The 32-year-old Faksa has 17 points (2G / 15A) through 56 games in a fourth-line role this season and has not surpassed the 20-point plateau since 2018-19. Initially expected to be sidelined into the postseason, Head Coach Glen Gulutzan expressed that Faksa is remarkably ahead of schedule and could play before the end of the season.

DeSmith allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Stars loss in Philadelphia last Sunday. DeSmith has not registered a win since March 8th, losing four straight with 3.03 GAA and .890 SV%. Tonight he'll face an Avalanche team that has scored three-plus goals in six of their last seven, averaging 4.7 goals per game during that stretch.

Myers did not play in Dallas' previous game, and he will miss at least one more outing due to an undisclosed ailment. The 36-year-old Myers has two assists in 11 games since joining the Stars at the trade deadline.

Cameron Hughes will exit the Stars lineup on Thursday, as the team will welcome Capobianco back into the lineup and go with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Thursday. The 28-year-old Capobianco has not played since early Februrary. He has five points (2G / 3A) in 31 games this season.

Hughes made his Dallas Stars debut in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, his third career game, but he will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco will enter the lineup as Hughes' replacement, suggesting the Stars intend on using an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Thursday.

The Stars have followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing seven of their last nine (2-5-2). Oettinger, who was nearly unbeatable to start March, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and seven games (5-0-2), has mimicked his team's decline by ending March with a dreadful 4.01 GAA and .806 SV% in his last four appearances (1-2-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0) to stay within contention of a Wild Card spot.

The Stars have followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing seven of their last nine (2-5-2). Oettinger, who was nearly unbeatable to start March, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and seven games (5-0-2), has mimicked his team's decline by ending March with a dreadful 4.01 GAA and .806 SV% in his last four appearances (1-2-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0) to stay within contention of a Wild Card spot.

Myers briefly exited Dallas' previous game due to an injury but returned shortly after. That said, he will not play on Tuesday, allowing Ilya Lyubushkin to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Myers has two assists in 11 games since joining the Stars at the trade deadline.

With Michael Bunting (lower body) out of the lineup, Hughes will draw in for his team debut. Hughes was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft that has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has an impressive 66 points (16G / 50A) in 63 games this season with the Texas Stars (AHL).

Oettinger was lightly tested in his previous game, allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%), but was victorious in a 6-3 contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Oettinger has a 2.31 GAA and .906 SV% in 10 March appearances (6-1-2), and a win on Tuesday would make March the winningest month of the season for him. The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as -128 road favourites against a Boston Bruins team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.

Hughes was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft that has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has an impressive 66 points (16G / 50A) in 63 games this season with the Texas Stars (AHL).