Stars vs. Blues: Dallas Looks to Keep Momentum Rolling at Home
The Dallas Stars are set to square off with the St. Louis Blues on Friday night, marking the second of four meetings between the division rivals this season.
The last time these two teams met, back on October 18, the Blues came out on top with a 3-1 win at Enterprise Center. But with the next two matchups looming-January 27 in St.
Louis and February 4 back in Dallas-the Stars have a chance to even the series and build some momentum in the Central Division.
Right now, the standings tell the story of two teams on very different paths. The Stars sit second in the Central with 65 points and a solid 13-7-3 record at home. The Blues, meanwhile, have struggled to find consistency, sitting at the bottom of the division with 46 points and just seven wins in 24 road games.
But don’t let the standings fool you-division games are rarely predictable, especially when there’s history involved. And there’s plenty of that here.
A History of Tight Battles
Dallas holds a slight edge over St. Louis in recent matchups, earning points in nine of their last 11 meetings (8-2-1) and outscoring the Blues 27-18 in that stretch.
Even more encouraging for the Stars: they’ve won five straight against the Blues at American Airlines Center. That home-ice confidence could be a major factor heading into Friday night.
Johnston and Rantanen Heating Up
Wyatt Johnston seems to have a knack for producing against the Blues. He’s riding a two-game point streak against St.
Louis, with four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in that span-including a hat trick the last time the Blues came to Dallas on March 2, 2025. In total, Johnston has 10 points in 11 career games against St.
Louis, with a +4 rating. He’s been a reliable spark plug, and his ability to rise in divisional matchups is something the Stars will be counting on.
Mikko Rantanen, who’s missed the last two games due to illness, could be back in the lineup Friday. If he’s good to go, that’s a big boost.
He’s also on a two-game point streak vs. the Blues, with four goals in those contests-including a hat trick last March while still with Colorado. Rantanen has a career 1.03 points-per-game average against St.
Louis (33 points in 32 games), and his presence would add another layer of danger to Dallas’ top six.
Eyes on the Stars
Jason Robertson continues to be a force for Dallas. He netted two goals in the Stars’ 6-2 win over Boston on January 20 and now leads the team with 29 goals-third-most in the NHL entering Thursday’s action. With 58 points in 50 games, he’s tied for 11th in league scoring and has been a model of consistency.
Robertson’s 185 shots on goal rank third in the league, and 71 of those have been high-danger chances-fifth-most in the NHL. That’s not just volume; that’s quality.
Against the Blues, he’s been solid too, posting 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 15 career games and a +5 rating. He’s picked up four points in his last four games against St.
Louis, dating back to December 2024.
Blues’ Bright Spot: Robert Thomas
For the Blues, Robert Thomas has been one of the few steady producers. He’s coming into this one with three points over his last two games and leads the team in scoring with 33 points in 42 games. He’s also tops on the team in power-play production (9 points) and takeaways (22), while sitting tied for second in goals (11).
Thomas has had some success against Dallas too, with 11 points in 19 career games. And he seems to like the American Airlines Center-he’s notched three points in his last three games played in Dallas.
Faceoffs, Shots, and the Stars' Identity
One of the more interesting subplots for Dallas right now is their faceoff performance. Last week against Utah, they managed just 33% in the circle and lost 2-1.
But Tuesday against Boston? A dominant 65% and a 6-2 win.
So what changed?
“It happens,” said veteran center Matt Duchene. But the key, he emphasized, is what you do with those faceoff wins-or losses.
Against Utah, the Mammoth capitalized off a draw for the game-winner. Against Boston, Dallas turned two faceoff wins into goals.
Duchene pointed out that faceoff success isn't just about the center-it’s also about the wingers doing their job. “We got back to meat and potatoes,” he said.
“Guys did a great job of holding up. That’s a huge part of draws.”
Head coach Glen Gulutzan echoed that sentiment. He’s pushing for a more aggressive, shooting-focused mentality off faceoff wins.
“We want to win these draws and then shoot,” Gulutzan said. “Let’s play some road hockey off of it and see what happens.”
Dallas currently ranks seventh in the NHL in faceoff percentage (51.9%), down slightly from a previous second-place mark of 53.4%. Still, they’re among the league’s elite in the dot-and they know it can be a weapon.
Robertson, who had 17 shot attempts and nine shots on goal against Boston, summed it up well: “You not only shoot it, but you get the puck back so you can get more shots.”
Key Numbers to Know
- 2.40: The Blues rank last in the league in goals per game, averaging just 2.40.
- 24.7: St.
Louis also ranks last in shots on goal per game.
- 23.0: The Blues bring physicality, ranking fifth in the NHL in hits per game.
- 18.1: Dallas sits 25th in that same category-less physical, more finesse.
- 68: The Stars lead the NHL in third-period goals with 68.
- 36: The Blues rank dead last in third-period scoring.
Final Word
Friday night’s tilt is more than just another regular-season matchup-it’s a chance for Dallas to assert its dominance in the Central and keep the pressure on the teams above them. With a strong home record, key players heating up, and a renewed focus on faceoffs and shot generation, the Stars are in a good position to bounce back from their earlier loss to St. Louis.
But the Blues won’t go quietly. They may be struggling in the standings, but they’ve got enough talent to play spoiler-especially if Robert Thomas continues to produce and the team leans into its physical style.
Puck drops Friday night at American Airlines Center. Expect intensity, expect urgency, and expect a Dallas team looking to make a statement.