Dallas Stars News

Steel draws back into the lineup in place of Ty Dellandrea after being a healthy scratch for Tuesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Golden Knights. Steel signed with the Stars in the off-season following a 10-goal, 18-assist campaign across 68 games with the Wild last season. He's played just one game so far this season and is yet to register a point as a Star.

Oettinger will start for the third consecutive game on Thursday and look to bounce back after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He made 32 saves in the loss. The Stars are sizeable -255 road favourites against an Anaheim Ducks team that will welcome talented center Leo Calsson, the second overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, into their lineup for his NHL debut. Last season, Oettinger had a 0.96 GAA and .969 SV% along with a shutout in two contests against the Ducks.

Oettinger makes his second start of the season after an impressive 23-save performance in a 2-1 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues in the Stars' season-opener. Oettinger and the Stars should be well rested, having not seen game-action in five days, and are listed as slight -115 road favourites over the defending Stanely Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. In three games against the Golden Knights last season (3-0-0), Oettinger was lights-out, recording a 0.96 GAA and .967 SV%. This rematch of the Western Conference Finals makes for a highly contested matchup in what has traditionally been low-scoring affairs between the two teams.

The Stars, who have only played one game this season (1-0-0) and have been off for five days, will welcome Hintz into the lineup for his season debut. Primarily centring one of the league's top lines with Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, Hintz recorded a career-high 75 points (37G / 38A) last season. Hintz will retake his spot on the top line as Tyler Seguin will move down to a line with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene.

The Stars, who have only played one game this season (1-0-0) and have been off for five days, are expected to welcome Hintz into the lineup for his season debut. Primarily centring one of the league's top lines with Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski, Hintz recorded a career-high 75 points (37G / 38A) last season. Hintz will retake his spot on the top line as Tyler Seguin will move down to a line with Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene.

Oettinger is expected to make his second start of the season after an impressive 23-save performance in a 2-1 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues in the Stars' season-opener. Oettinger and the Stars should be well rested, having not seen game-action in five days, and are listed as slight -115 road favourites over the defending Stanely Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. In three games against the Golden Knights last season (3-0-0), Oettinger was lights-out, recording a 0.96 GAA and .967 SV%. This rematch of the Western Conference Finals makes for a highly contested matchup in what has traditionally been low-scoring affairs between the two teams.

Erne signed with the Oilers at the end of training camp and will make his debut on Saturday. Erne spent the last four seasons in Detroit and had 18 points (8G / 10A) in 61 games in 2022-23. He'll skat eon the fourth line with Derek Ryan and Mattias Janmark.

DeSmith stopped all five shots that he faced after replacing Thatcher Demko (illness) during the Canucks' blowout win over the Oilers on Wednesday. Tonight he will make his first start with the Canucks, as he goes head-to-head with the Oilers again. This is a brutal matchup, so leave DeSmith on the waiver wire on a busy 14-game slate.

Erne had a successful PTO with Edmonton and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 10 assists, 21 PIMs, 55 SOG, and a -12 plus/minus in 61 games played in 2022-23. He will be joining his third NHL team for his eighth career season and has 40 goals and 89 points in 355 career games played.

Hintz was originally a game-time decision but with five days between games, the Stars coaching staff has opted to give him the extra rest instead of rushing him into the season opener. Hintz tallied 75 points last season (37G / 38A) while primarily centring Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski on one of the top lines in the NHL. Tyler Seguin is expected to slot into the first-line center role in Hintz's absence.

Oettinger is one of the premiere young goalies in the NHL and enters the 2023-24 campaign as a contender for the Vezina Trophy. In 62 games with the Stars last season (37-11-11), Oettinger had a 2.35 GAA and .919 SV% along with five shutouts. The Stars enter the season as -210 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that parted ways with talented scorer Vladimir Tarasenko in the offseason. In his lone appearance against the Blues last season, Oettinger recorded a 25-save shutout victory.

Hintz had 37 goals, 38 assists, 184 SOG, 30 PIMs and a +31 plus/minus through 73 games in 2022-23 but will be a game-time decision for Dallas' season opener vs. St. Louis due to a preseason upper-body injury. The 26-year-old is a key piece of the Stars' impressive offence but has missed 11 games due to injury in the previous two seasons.

Blackwell had two goals, eight assists, 53 SOG, six PIMs, and a -16 plus/minus through 53 games with Chicago in 2022-23 but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old veteran forward is considered out indefinitely as he begins his sixth NHL season. He will be used as a key depth piece when he returns to the Blackhawks.

Faksa took a hard hit along the boards during last Tuesday's preseason game and had to get stitches on his face. He was not in concussion protocol, so there's a good chance that Dallas' fourth-line centre is available for opening night.

Johnston had a "little bit of a procedure," according to head coach Pete DeBoer. The Stars will be forced to shuffle their lineup around and Craig Smith will likely dress if Johnston isn't able to play on Thursday.

Hintz practiced with the team for the first two days of training camp but hasn't been with the team recently due to an upper-body injury. He's been skating on his own and head coach Pete DeBoer is still optimistic that Hintz will be ready for Game 1. His availability for practice this week will be a good indication of if he'll play vs. the Blues or not.

Bourque had a successful first year of professional hockey last season, scoring 47 points (20G / 27A) in 70 games with the Texas Stars (AHL). The 30th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has yet to make his NHL debut and will have to continue waiting as he begins this season in the AHL. Bourque is a high-end prospect for the Stars and could see some time in the NHL this season.