Dallas plays host to the New York Islanders for a Saturday night home opener at the American Airlines Center.
For the first time since June, the Dallas Stars will host a meaningful hockey game at the American Airlines Center when the New York Islanders come to town for the Stars home opener Saturday.
After a 4-3 win in Nashville on Thursday, head coach Pete DeBoer said that the team had lots to improve on, but most of the sloppiness could be attributed to the early season rust expected of every team in early October, The Stars had a comfortable 4-1 lead before Nashville scored two goals in the third period to make it close at the end.
The Predators hit the post with under 20 seconds left in the game on a shot that would have sent the game to overtime had it gone in. Despite the three goals allowed, Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was the best player on the ice, which helped the new look defense begin to build chemistry together while making inevitable mistakes. Oettinger bailed the team out quite a few times, but at this point in his career, it's almost expected of the All Star goalie.
The Islanders hosted the Utah Hockey Club for their home opener Thursday, going through a wild high scoring affair that ended in an overtime loss. Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom picked up right where he left off last year while playing on the penalty kill, assisting on a shorthanded goal to go up 3-2 in the third period. Holmstrom led the league in shorthanded goals last season.
New York allowed the tying goal on the same power play, though, but kept pushing and took a 4-3 lead with just over two minutes left in the third period. The Islanders once again allowed a quick answer from Utah forward Josh Doan seconds later, and the game went to overtime tied 4-4. Utah sniper Dylan Guenther scored his second goal of the game in OT to win it for the new franchise, with the Islanders picking up their first point of the season before heading south.
What to watch for:
- Head coach Pete DeBoer said the line of Mason Marchment, Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene was the best forward line in Nashville. It seems like they could pick up right where they left off last season when they were one of the best lines in hockey for the first half of the season.
- While most thought Wyatt Johnston would take Joe Pavelski's place on the top line with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson, it was instead Logan Stankoven. The young playmaker fit right in, gathering three assists in his first game of the season. Stankoven had an impressive preseason and looked great in Nashville.
- Colin Blackwell and Oskar Back joined Sam Steel on the new-look fourth line, and that trio will continue to try and develop chemistry while Mavrik Borque remains out. Borque practiced but separate from the rest of the team, meaning he will miss at least one more game.
- New signing Anthony Duclair scored in his first game with the New York Islanders. The productive forward spent time with San Jose last season before being traded at the deadline to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
- This is the first of a rare home back-to-back for Dallas. They will host the Seattle Kraken Sunday night right back at the American Airlines Center. Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith will most likely make his Stars debut Sunday.
Projected Lines:
Robertson-Hintz-Stankoven
Marchment-Duchene-Seguin
Benn-Johnston-Dadonov
Steel-Back-Blackwell
Heiskanen-Dumba
Lindell-Lundkvist
Harley-Lyubushkin
Oettinger
DeSmith
This is the first regular season broadcast on Victory+, the new free streaming service that carries all locally covered Dallas Stars games. Download the app on connected devices to watch.
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. CDT and can be seen exclusively on Victory+ locally and out of market on ESPN+.
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