Stars Survive Blues’ Comeback, Win Another Thriller in Final Minute
For the second game in a row, the Dallas Stars found themselves in a nail-biter against the St. Louis Blues-and for the second time, they walked away with a last-minute win. This time, it was Thomas Harley who played hero, burying the game-winner late in regulation to lift Dallas to a 4-3 victory at Enterprise Center.
It was a game that felt like déjà vu. Just days earlier, Dallas had clawed back from a deficit to edge the Blues 3-2.
On Tuesday night, the roles reversed. The Stars built a commanding 3-0 lead, only to watch it evaporate in the third period.
But once again, they refused to let the game slip into overtime. With 67 seconds left on the clock, Harley put the finishing touch on a dramatic night-and gave the Stars another two points they had to fight for.
Dallas Rediscovers Its Identity-Then Nearly Loses It
For a team that’s spent the last month searching for its rhythm, Friday night’s win felt like a return to form. And for the first 43 minutes of Tuesday’s game, the Stars looked like the team that stormed through the early part of the season.
The first period was a bit of a feeling-out process-shots were even at nine apiece, and neither side found much flow. But in the second, Dallas wasted no time taking control.
Matt Duchene opened the scoring on the power play, finishing off a slick feed from Mikko Rantanen just over three minutes into the frame. Less than two minutes later, Duchene struck again-this time benefiting from a couple of fortunate bounces to double the lead. Roope Hintz added a third power-play tally late in the period with a one-time blast, and the Stars were suddenly up 3-0 and cruising.
But hockey has a way of humbling teams quickly.
Robby Fabbri got the Blues on the board early in the third, and with just four minutes left, the game was tied. What had looked like a statement win was now teetering on collapse.
This is where things could’ve gone sideways. Given how the last five weeks have gone for Dallas-injuries, inconsistency, and a lineup in flux-no one would’ve been shocked if the game slipped into overtime and ended in disappointment.
But instead of folding, the Stars found a way. Again. Harley’s late goal sealed it, and while it wasn’t pretty, it was exactly the kind of win this team needed.
Duchene Finds His Groove at the Right Time
It’s been a tough road for Matt Duchene this season. After missing 25 games due to injury, he’s struggled to find his footing. Heading into Tuesday’s game, he had just five goals and 12 points-a far cry from the 82-point player he was last year.
But something’s clicked over the last two games.
Duchene’s two-goal performance against the Blues gives him three goals in his last two outings, and more importantly, signs that he might be turning a corner. With Tyler Seguin sidelined and Mason Marchment no longer in the picture, the Stars desperately need Duchene to be that secondary scoring threat behind their top-tier producers.
Rantanen, Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, and Hintz are doing the heavy lifting offensively, all sitting between 41 and 64 points. After that, the drop-off is steep-Sam Steel is next up with just 20 points. If Duchene can rediscover his scoring touch, it changes the entire complexion of the forward group.
Chemistry has been a challenge. Duchene, Seguin, and Marchment were a trio with real familiarity, but with that group now scattered, Duchene’s had to adjust to new linemates on the fly-and while managing his own recovery. Now that he’s healthy and heating up, the Stars can only hope that time and opportunity will do the rest.
Still Piecing It Together
Under Pete DeBoer, the Stars were known for rolling four lines with confidence. That depth was a big part of their identity-and their success. But with Glen Gulutzan now behind the bench, and injuries piling up, that luxury just isn’t there.
Seguin, Marchment, and Mikael Granlund are all out. And these aren’t bottom-six guys-they’re core contributors. Their absence has forced Gulutzan to shuffle the deck, and Tuesday’s game saw a notable adjustment: rookie Justin Hryckowian moved up to the top six, skating on Johnston’s left wing opposite Rantanen.
It’s a big ask for a rookie, but Hryckowian has earned the look. He’s a grinder who thrives in the dirty areas, and while he clearly deferred to his linemates at times, the talent is there. The next step is confidence-believing he belongs on that line and playing like it.
Elsewhere, the third line of Duchene, Jamie Benn, and Sam Steel is holding its own, but the Stars are clearly leaning on their top two units to carry the load. Until the roster gets healthier-or reinforcements arrive via trade-this is likely the formula.
And that’s okay. The sooner Dallas embraces what it is right now, rather than what it used to be, the better off they’ll be. The potential is still there for this group to be a force, but it starts with recognizing the current reality and making the most of it.
Four Games to the Break
The Olympic break is on the horizon, and it couldn’t come at a better time for a banged-up Stars squad. But before they can exhale, there’s still work to be done.
Dallas wraps up its road trip with matchups against the and the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. After that, they’ll head home for two more games against the Winnipeg Jets before the league hits pause.
If the Stars can continue to build momentum over these final four games, they’ll head into the break in a much better place than they were just a couple of weeks ago. And with key players potentially returning on the other side, that could be the launchpad this team needs for a strong second half.
For now, they’ll take the win-and the reminder that even when things get dicey, they still know how to close.