The Dallas Stars had more than a loss to sort through Tuesday night. In a 5-1 home defeat to the New Jersey Devils, they also watched defenseman Kyle Capobianco leave the game late with a lower-body injury after an apparent leg issue following a hit from Devils forward Timo Meier.
Capobianco’s exit added another concern to a blue line that’s already been tested. Esa Lindell, the Stars’ top penalty-killing defenseman, has been out for over a week and remains on injured reserve.
For Capobianco, the injury comes at a time when his role had grown beyond a simple depth assignment. The 29-year-old has already appeared in five games this season, most often on the third pair with veteran Tyler Myers. After signing a two-year, one-way deal worth $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28, he had become more important than expected, and his absence could now leave the Stars thinner on the back end.
The night itself was rough across the board for Dallas. Casey DeSmith was in net as the Devils scored five times on 27 shots, while the Stars’ offense never got going and managed just 17 shots against Connor Hellebuyck in his debut for the visitors. It was only the third time this season Dallas had been held to one goal or fewer, and the defeat snapped a five-game winning streak.
The Stars’ schedule now moves on to a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens, followed by a Halloween meeting with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
In Other News...
Stars Get A Wild First Test Against New Jersey's New Goalie
The Stars are about to get an unusual first look at a newly reshaped Devils roster, with Connor Hellebuyck now in New Jersey after a multi-player deal with Winnipeg. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said the veteran goalie will be in net against Dallas, giving the Stars a chance to see how the move settles in right away rather than waiting for the usual adjustment period.
Hellebuyck has not played this season, and his first practice with New Jersey came just Monday after Winnipeg suspended him for failing to report to training camp. For a Stars team that has to game-plan for everything on the road, the twist is obvious: the opponent theyre preparing for may look a little different than the one they expected even a few days ago, and the real test is still about to begin. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Get An Unusual Lift At The Perfect Time
With injuries piling up, the Stars have leaned on depth wherever they can find it, and that has created a rare family twist in Dallas. Justin and Dylan Hryckowian have both suited up for the club, giving the team an extra layer of support while also providing a reminder of how unusual this NHL season has been around the league.
Their arrival adds to a broader trend that has quietly made its way across the NHL this year, with brother combinations popping up in a way the league has not seen before. For Dallas, though, the more immediate interest is practical: the Hryckowians are helping absorb minutes and supply needed scoring at a time when the roster is stretched thin. [Read more 🡒]