Had a long conversation with Matt Duchene after practice. Will talk more about it on the show today, but he went through hell to get back from a vestibular concussion. And the rehab is not done yet. Lucky for him and the Stars, playing games is now part of that process.

Glen Gulutzan said that Nils Lundkvist has loaned his scooter to Lian Bichsel for similar injury rehab. “Now, he’s given it to Bich, and he’s had to put some extra wheels on and raise it about six inches.”

Thomas Harley will travel, not sure if he will play. Ilya Lyubushkin will not travel, they hope he is only out about five days.

Thomas Harley and Matt Duchene on ice for a very optional practice.

This feels like that PP where Dallas rises from the dead and ties the game. First opportunity.

Stars going with the give the puck to the other team strategy. Bold.

Stars activated Matt Duchene and Nils Lundkvist off LTIR 👀👀

I’m going to throw up. But Go Canes 🙌

Dallas placed Tyler Seguin and Lian Bichsel on LTIR this morning. Seguin is retroactive to Dec. 2, Bichsel Nov. 30.

Sam Steel is really struggling to score this year. With a chance on the top line, it has mostly been bobbled pucks and missing the net. That has led to some visible lack of trust from teammates, especially Rantanen. Just had three golden chances and didn't get a shot on goal.

That was an elite trailing poke check by Kolyachonok. Getting all puck from that position on a Will Smith breakaway without taking a penalty... Nice.

Mavrik Bourque gets on the wrong side of Collin Graf in front. He gets to the rebound first and ties the game. Graf was undrafted after winning the first national title in Quinnipiac school history.

Mikko Rantanen going for consistent two minute shifts tonight, I see.

I gotta say... News around Nils Lundkvist, Thomas Harley is pretty positive for once. Didn't expect either to be close... Nils had issues putting a skate on last we heard, and Harley wasn't practicing. A chance to see them and Matt Duchene soon. That's good stuff.

Oh no, not again. Tyler Seguin gets helped off the ice after an awkward collision along the wall. Not putting much weight on the leg.

If you’ve been waiting and wondering when the best time is to become a DLLS DieHard… Well, it’s now! Join our DieHards on Cyber Monday and save 67% while still getting all of the awesome benefits and discounts, plus a free shirt! 🛒 alldlls.com/cyber-so...

Wyatt Johnston is the NHL's first star of the week. Second Stars player to do it in November (Jason Robertson).

Lian Bichsel will be evaluated tomorrow. Glen Gulutzan said they are hoping it’s not as serious as they initially thought.

The Stars are good.

Jamie Benn on the top line can't possibly wo... Benn scores his third goal in four games -- and has six points in only seven games back from a collapsed lung. Rantanen being ridiculous helps.

Lian Bichsel is listed as questionable to return.

Stars PP is pretty good.

Lian Bichsel has been down on the ice for a bit after awkwardly slamming legs-first into the Ottawa bench. He heads straight down the tunnel with lots of help and not putting any weight on his left leg.

Stars with plenty of chances to get that puck out against an elite Ottawa forecheck. Multiple turnovers, and a nice patient five-hole shot from Sanderson after he saw DeSmith get over to his left. Benn broke his stick on the post after. Oh, and Jason Robertson scored again.

Dallas skyline and old logo on the right, Cowboys and logo on the left for Casey DeSmith. Of course, stripe down the middle.

The Stars held a pregame ceremony to celebrate Jamie Benn’s 400th goal. Jim Nill presented him a plaque. It was as minimal as possible, fitting for Benn, who is ready to stop talking about it lol.

Stars warmup lines vs Ottawa: Benn - Johnston - Rantanen Robertson - Hintz - Seguin Bäck - Hryckowian - Bourque Steel - Faksa - Blackwell Lindell - Heiskanen Capobianco - Lyubushkin Bichsel - Petrovic DeSmith Oettinger

Casey DeSmith is debuting his new '99 setup tonight. Shades of Anton Khudobin.

Matt Duchene is technically medically cleared, but is still having lingering symptoms. Gulutzan said he is ‘chomping at the bit’ to play, but still needs more time and some conditioning to safely return. Adam Erne has had some good days after a surgery. Still some time.

Casey DeSmith starts vs Ottawa. Ilya Lyubushkin is back in, Vladislav Kolyachonok comes out.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan on the team feeding off the new jerseys: "We were looking for any type of energy today... When I saw the new jerseys and the crowd's excitement... I thought, 'Okay, that helped tremendously... In all seriousness... 'We can use this energy right now."

On the same night Jake Oettinger paid tribute to Ed Belfour, he also tied The Eagle with 160 wins in a Stars sweater.

The Dallas Stars are pretty good.

Esa Lindell with more excellent defending and about 400 cross checks tonight. Only thing he's missed are his usual long-range empty netters.

Two full minutes of 5-on-3 for Dallas.

Kyle Capobianco and Alex Petrovic with assists on the last two Stars goals. Capobianco has had a great game tonight, using his skating very well. Oh, and Robertson scored again. Obviously.

Radek Faksa knocked the skate blade off Dmitri Simiashev with a big hit behind the net. Stars capitalize on Benn's 401st career goal. Mike Modano, look out.

Thoughts?

Roope Hintz has all of a sudden become elite at tipping pucks. I dig it. 2-1 Utes. Stars stay on the PP.

Benn goes down the tunnel for repairs.

Four-minute Dallas power play coming after they clean Jamie Benn's blood off the ice.

Lian Bichsel with a poor pinch, Alex Petrovic not ideal defending, and Utah makes easy work of it on a beautiful 2-on-1 less than a minute in. Did the '99 team get scored on a lot in the first minute? Is that why they did it? I get it now.

Stars warmup lines vs Utah: Benn - Johnston - Rantanen Robertson - Hintz - Seguin Bäck - Hryckowian - Bourque Steel - Faksa - Blackwell Lindell - Heiskanen Bichsel - Petrovic Capobianco - Kolyachonok Oettinger DeSmith

Once again, some big lines at the AAC for the new jersey. Expect to see a lot of them in the seats tonight.

Colin Blackwell hosted a bunch of teammates for Thanksgiving — Johnston, Bourque, Harley, Capobianco, and Bichsel along with his wife’s family. Bourque told me they ate way too much food. Just like us Americans.

Jake Oettinger said while they would have loved to be home earlier on Thanksgiving (team got home around 4pm), staying over in Seattle gave him the chance to see Mason Marchment’s new place and meet his son for the first time.

Oettinger’s pads and mask are a tribute to Ed Belfour. His mask features a screaming otter rather than an eagle.

Jake Oettinger starts vs Utah. Colin Blackwell will come in for Nathan Bastian. Matt Duchene and Ilya Lyubushkin are getting closer. Both out tonight. Thomas Harley is a little longer than that, and Nils Lundkvist a ways away.

Duchene is taking part of morning skate as well after skating on his own before.

New ‘99 look for Jake Oettinger.