The 2025–26 regular season wraps up Wednesday with a marquee matchup as the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars] face off against the Buffalo Sabres in a clash between two of the league’s top teams. Widely viewed as a potential Stanley Cup Final preview, the game features the third- and fourth-ranked teams in their respective conferences. As Dallas [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars]continues to get healthier, forward Sam Steel could return to the lineup, joining a growing list of recently activated players that includes Michael Bunting, Radek Faksa, and Tyler Myers. Steel is expected to slot into a top-line role in his first game back and will aim to make an immediate impact. Both teams are already looking ahead to the playoffs. The Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars]are set to meet the Minnesota Wild in what promises to be a hard-fought first-round series. Meanwhile, the Sabres are preparing for their first postseason appearance since 2011, where they will take on the Boston Bruins in a highly anticipated matchup. While Wednesday’s result will not affect playoff positioning, it offers both teams a valuable opportunity to build momentum and fine-tune their game before the intensity of the postseason begins. Make Sure You Bookmark THN's Dallas Stars Site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/]For The Latest News, Exclusive Interviews, Breakdowns, And So Much More. DALLAS STARS’ EXPECTED LINE COMBINATIONS VS. BUFFALO (WEDNESDAY) Steel - Johnston - Rantanen Robertson - Duchene - Bourque Benn - Hryckowian - Bunting Back - Faksa - Erne Harley - Lundkvist Lindell - Lyubushkin Bichsel - Myers Oettinger Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7580a307-e387-4cc9-86ee-6eeb7a5cf1a7.jpeg] For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
