Oettinger allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Stars loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak to start the season for Oettinger, who now owns a 1.81 GAA and .941 SV% through five starts. Tonight he gets the nod vs. the Blackhawks and the Stars are the biggest favourites (-347) on Saturday's 14-game slate.
Oettinger allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Stars loss in Buffalo on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak to start the season for Oettinger, who now owns a 1.81 GAA and .941 SV% through five starts. Tonight he gets the nod vs. the Blackhawks and the Stars are the biggest favourites (-347) on Saturday's 14-game slate.
Bourque recorded his first career NHL point on Tuesday, an assist, but will serve as a healthy scratch on Thursday to allow Oskar Back to draw back into the lineup. The 22-year-old Bourque, last season's AHL point leader, had played the last four games for the Stars after missing the first three due to an injury.
Back was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Tuesday, but will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins, replacing Mavrik Bourque. The 24-year-old Back has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 9:57 time-on-ice through six games, playing exclusively on the Stars' fourth line.
The Stars organization made it very clear that Jake Oettinger is their goalie of the future, signing an eight-year contract extension last week, but they continue to be very liberal with their early-season goalie rotation and will return to DeSmith between the pipes for the third time in eight games. The 33-year-old DeSmith has been stellar when called upon early in the season, posting a 1.53 GAA and .941 SV% in two contests (1-1-0). The Stars enter the action on Thursday as slight +103 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins club that has been outscored 24-21 this season (3-3-1).
Sam Steel (undisclosed) will return to the lineup from a one-game absence, making rookie Oskar Back a healthy scratch for the first time this season. The 24-year-old Back has averaged 9:57 time-on-ice and tallied one assist through six games, playing predominantly on the Stars' fourth line.
Smith played the last four games as Matt Dumba was out of the lineup with a lower-body injury but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Dumba to make his return. Smith averaged 12:42 time-on-ice and had a +1 plus/minus in four games.
Rookie Oscar Back will serve as a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Steel to return from a one-game absence. Through five games this season, Steel has two points (1G / 1A) while playing predominantly on the fourth line.
Dumba exited the Stars' second game of the season after playing only 6:02 time-on-ice and missed the next four games, but will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Brendan Smith will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch to welcome Dumba's return. The 30-year-old Dumba signed a two-year contract worth $7.5 million ($3.75 AAV) with the Stars in the offseason to be paired next to Miro Heiskanen on the Stars' top defensive pair.
The Stars will turn to Oettinger between the pipes for the second straight game when they face off against the Buffalo Sabres. On Saturday, Oettinger played his first game after signing a massive eight-year, $66 million contract extension and proved his worth by saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The 25-year-old Oettinger has been outstanding early in the 2024-25 season, boasting an impressive 1.48 GAA and .953 SV% in four games (4-0-0). The Stars enter the action on Tuesday as -144 road favorites against a Sabres club that has scored four or more goals in three straight games (1-1-1).
Steel played 13:36 time-on-ice in Dallas' first loss of the season on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, but suffered an undisclosed injury in the waning minutes of the third period, forcing him to miss Saturday's 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Through five games this season, Steel has two points (1G / 1A) while playing predominantly on the fourth line.
Seguin was off to a strong start to the 2024-25 season, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in his first three games, but has been sidelined with a lower-body injury in the three games since. Seguin's impending return will create an interesting lineup dilemma for a Stars coaching staff rostering a deep and talented forward group.
Dumba exited the Stars' second game of the season after playing only 6:02 time-on-ice and has been replaced by Brendan Smith in the lineup in the four games since. The 30-year-old Dumba signed a two-year contract worth $7.5 million ($3.75 AAV) with the Stars in the offseason to be paired next to Miro Heiskanen on the Stars' top defensive pair.
Petrovic was called up last week after Matt Dumba (lower-body) was injured. Given that Dumba is only about a week into his week-to-week injury prognosis, Petrovic's demotion to the Texas Stars (AHL) is likely just a paper transaction. The 32-year-old Petrovic spent the majority of 2023-24 with the Texas Stars (AHL) and had five goals and 22 points in 70 games played.
Blumel made his season debut for Dallas on Saturday, filling in for Sam Steel (undisclosed). The 24-year-old Blumel played 8:00 time-on-ice and had two shots in goal while playing in his first NHL game since the 2022-23 season.
Smith temporarily exited Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals when he awkwardly collided into the boards after being cross-checked by Andrew Mangiapane but returned to the ice shortly after. The 35-year-old Smith has played three straight games for the Stars since Matt Dumba went down with a lower-body injury.
