The Dallas Stars have already played 16 games this season and sit at 9-5-2, but November still has plenty of bite left. With 10 games remaining in the month - including Saturday night’s matchup with Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks - the Stars are staring at a stretch that could tell us plenty about where they stand in a Central Division that has been shuffled around.
The most intriguing date on the calendar comes at the end of the month, when Utah visits on November 28. For years, that would have been the kind of matchup fans circled as an expected two points.
Not anymore. The Utah Mammoth have become a real problem in the division and are currently sitting above Dallas in the standings.
Since the teams have not met yet this season, the game should bring a fresh edge, with both sides trying to prove they want the two points more. A win that early against a divisional opponent could matter a lot when April rolls around.
Before that, the Stars get another divisional test on November 12 against the Winnipeg Jets. Dallas already saw Winnipeg once this season and came away with a 3-2 overtime win.
The Jets may not be tracking toward another Presidents’ Trophy run, but they remain a nuisance, especially after making NHL history with a four-goal comeback against Montreal. Winnipeg used to be defined by Connor Hellebuyck, but now it presents a different kind of challenge, one Dallas can’t afford to shrug off.
A few days later, on November 15, the Florida Panthers come to town. That one looks like one of the toughest games left on the schedule.
With Matthew and Brady Tkachuk in the mix, Florida has been piling up hat tricks at a scary pace, and Dallas could be the next team to deal with one. The Panthers are still a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, which makes this a useful measuring-stick game for the Stars before they head out to Vegas.
That road trip to Vegas arrives on November 17 and 19, and it carries plenty of weight. The Stars and Golden Knights have plenty of playoff baggage between them, so there’s no shortage of tension there.
Both teams are also chasing a top seed in the Western Conference, which gives those two games the feel of a potential four-point swing. In a crowded race, that kind of trip can change the mood of a month fast.
The other game worth watching comes on November 22 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh isn’t the powerhouse it once was, but Sidney Crosby is still Sidney Crosby, and every point he adds pushes him closer to 1,800.
The Penguins are sitting near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division after making the playoffs last year, and for Dallas, this is exactly the kind of game that matters if the goal is to stay near the top of the Central Division. Beating teams below you in the standings is part of the job.
In Other News...
Former Stars Prospect Suddenly Resurfaces In An Unexpected AHL Move
A familiar name from the NHL ranks is back on the board in a place few would have expected. The Hamilton Hammers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, have brought in forward Robby Fabbri on a professional tryout contract, giving the veteran a chance to work his way into the season after opening the 2026-27 campaign without a deal.
For Stars fans, the move carries a little extra intrigue because Hamilton also added forward Antonio Stranges on a PTO. Fabbri brings a long NHL rsum, including 463 regular-season games and a Stanley Cup ring, while Stranges is another player looking to use the AHL stage to reestablish his footing and make a case for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Face A Tough Blue Line Test Without Miro Heiskanen
Miro Heiskanens status is the biggest blue-line question hanging over the Stars as they get ready to face the Sharks. The Dallas defenseman is listed as doubtful because of an upper-body injury, and he already sat out the previous game, forcing the Stars to adjust their look on the back end without one of their most important puck movers.
In his absence, Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist were pushed into the top defensive pairing, a setup Dallas may have to lean on again if Heiskanen cannot go. The Stars are also watching the broader injury picture around the league, with John Tavares nearing a return for Toronto and Minnesotas Nick and Marcus Foligno working back from upper-body injuries, but for Dallas the immediate concern is how well the defense can hold up if its top option remains out. [Read more 🡒]