The Dallas Stars are gearing up for a pivotal stretch of their season, starting with a showdown against the Vegas Golden Knights. Riding high after winning 11 of their last 12 games, the Stars are set to face a series of formidable opponents over the next seven games. The journey kicks off Tuesday night against a Vegas team eager to shake off its recent struggles.
Playing five of these seven games at home is a silver lining for Dallas, but the road ahead is anything but easy. After Vegas, the Stars will clash with the Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings, Utah Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild, wrapping up with a second encounter against the Golden Knights.
Starting strong against Vegas is crucial, especially since the Golden Knights are due for a resurgence. They've dropped 12 of their last 17 games, including seven of their past 10 on the road. While this slump has been advantageous for Dallas, it also signals that Vegas might be poised for a comeback.
To keep their momentum, the Stars need to stifle the Golden Knights' offense. In their recent 17-game stretch, Vegas has leaned heavily on captain Mark Stone, the only player maintaining a point-per-game pace. During this period, they've averaged 2.88 goals per game while conceding 3.47, placing them among the league's bottom seven defensively.
Despite their woes, Vegas is just a point shy of the Pacific Division lead and will be fiercely motivated to reclaim the top spot. Dallas, on the other hand, will look to their veteran forward Matt Duchene, who's been electrifying. Duchene has notched eight goals and 10 assists over the Stars’ 12-game hot streak, marking one of the most impressive stretches of his career.
Here’s how the Stars are expected to line up:
- Robertson - Johnston - Bourque
- Steel - Duchene - Benn
- Bunting - Hryckowian - Erne
- Blackwell - Back - Bastian
On defense, they’ll rely on:
- Lindell - Heiskanen
- Harley - Lundkvist
- Bichsel - Myers
And between the pipes, it’s Oettinger.
As the Stars aim to extend their winning ways, this stretch will be a true test of their mettle. Fans will be watching closely to see if Dallas can continue their impressive run and keep the momentum rolling against some of the league's toughest competition.