The Stars have the most players (7) of any team on ESPN’s top 100. That’s depth, right?

Jake Oettinger starts vs Minnesota. Petrovic in, Lyubushkin out.

Stars morning skate lines ahead of MIN: Steel - Hintz - Rantanen Hryckowian - Duchene - Seguin Robertson - Johnston - Bourque Blackwell - Faksa - Bastian Lindell - Heiskanen Harley - Lundkvist Bichsel - Petrovic Oettinger DeSmith

Wallstedt starting against LA tonight means the Stars should see Filip Gustavsson tomorrow in Dallas. Oettinger vs Gustavsson is a great matchup.

Oskar Bäck is skating on his own. Glen Gulutzan said he is still a few days, maybe a week away.

Stars practice lines: Steel - Hintz - Rantanen Blackwell - Duchene - Seguin Robertson - Johnston - Bourque Hryckowian - Faksa - Bastian Erne Lindell - Heiskanen Harley - Lundkvist Bichsel - Lyubushkin Petrovic Oettinger DeSmith

The Stars are practicing at the AAC today ahead of tomorrow’s home opener.

Wyatt Johnston said he chose to deke on his breakaway because he thought his stick might have been broken from the blocked shot. He is usually a breakaway shooter. Hockey is fun.

Glen Gulutzan: “I don't know if I've seen a goalie performance like that since Jake Oettinger against Calgary (in 2022).”

Of course Mikko Rantanen wins it in Denver. What else did you expect?

Glove save by Oettinger was pretty absurd. He has been outstanding tonight. One of those games that is not close without his heroics, no doubt. Let's see if he can make a few more in the shootout.

The Finns kick off OT.

Somebody might want to help Jake Oettinger. Just a thought.

👍

Four minutes of PP time coming for the Avs. Stars holding onto a one-goal lead. But it's as slippery as a watermelon covered in baby oil.

Yeah, they didn't. It's 3-3.

They didn't. It's 3-3.

That's a nifty little backhand deflection from Jason Robertson on Thomas Harley's point shot right off the draw. Right into the corner over Wedgewood's blocker. Stars have come on lately, but still a bit wild they are leading this game.

Some shuffling here: Robertson - Hintz - Rantanen Hryckowian - Duchene - Seguin Steel - Johnston - Bourque Blackwell - Faksa - Bastian

You just love to see a Nathan Bastian goal... especially when it's assisted by Esa Lindell. Great work from Robertson, Johnston, Lindell, and co. to keep pushing the pace over the past couple minutes and create multiple golden scoring chances. 2-2.

First NHL goal for Gavin Brindley. 2-1 Avs.

Not sure how there wasn't a penalty on the initial hit, but man I love Justin Hryckowian.

Nils Lundkvist would love that one back. Looked to be in perfect position to break up the MacKinnon cross-ice pass, just whiffed. Necas patiently shelfs it to tie the game.

WOW. What a passing sequence from Nils Lundkvist to Mikko Rantanen to an absolute BOMB from Thomas Harley. Stars lead 1-0 despite being outplayed most of the first period.

21-24-96 together again after successful PK.

Robertson "scored" on a funky bounce off the wall, but the Stars were offside. Scott Wedgewood knew that while standing behind the net, right? We play on.

Duchene is now the spin-o-rama master. What a pass to Blackwell. Dang.

Roope Hintz heard the 1% talk from Glen Gulutzan.

Duchene and Rantanen are being booed when they touch the puck, are on the big screen, drink water, do their taxes, etc…

Stars warmup lines at Colorado: Steel - Hintz - Rantanen Blackwell - Duchene - Seguin Robertson - Johnston - Bourque Hryckowian - Faksa - Bastian Lindell - Heiskanen Harley - Lundkvist Bichsel - Lyubushkin Oettinger DeSmith

May be just a one day trip, but I’m making it count. Almost game time.

Optional skate in Denver, so we will see lines in warmup tonight. Here is who’s skating: Robertson, Bourque, Duchene, Bastian, Johnston, Hryckowian, Erne, Faksa, Steel, Lundkvist, Bichsel, Petrovic, Lyubushkin, DeSmith.

DENVER —

Jake Oettinger starts tonight in Colorado. Same lineup as opening night. Gulutzan said he doesn’t want players sitting “much longer than this” when referring to Petrovic and Erne, so I would expect to see each of them in the lineup next week.

70 degrees in Denver this weekend? Si, por favor.

5-1 in the third period. Game's over, right?

Lol, okay. Sure.

The most important thing from tonight's game: Uber Eats is the Dallas road helmet sponsor this year, apparently.

Mean Mikko.

Stars forward lines in Game 1 under Glen Gulutzan: 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️ - 🤷‍♂️

Stars shuffled things around a bit after Rantanen, Robertson, Hintz goal. I think it looked like this: Robertson - Hintz - Rantanen Seguin - Duchene - Johnston Blackwell - Faksa - Bourque Hryckowian - Steel - Bastian

Two plays from players looking to take on bigger roles. Bourque makes a great defensive check in the slot as the PP expires, and a nice pass after. Lundkvist jumps into the rush and scores. Stars also loaded up Robertson, Hintz, Rantanen after successful PK. Sound familiar?

NILS

That is exactly what Sam Steel brings to the top line. Great hustle on the forecheck and vision to get that puck to Hintz on the backdoor.

Heiskanen, Lindell, and Seguin are wearing the A's on the road tonight.

What happens when a Mikko Rantanen PP one-timer meets Jake Oettinger’s water bottle?

PP1: Heiskanen, Rantanen, Hintz, Robertson, Johnston. PP2: Harley, Seguin, Duchene, Steel, Bourque.

Stars 2025-26 season eve practice lines: Steel - Hintz - Rantanen Blackwell - Duchene - Seguin Robertson - Johnston - Bourque Hryckowian - Faksa - Bastian Erne Lindell - Heiskanen Harley - Lundkvist Bichsel - Lyubushkin Petrovic Oettinger DeSmith

Harrison Scott and Trey Taylor have been sent back to the AHL. … and Justin Hryckowian has been recalled to Dallas.

Lian Bichsel is gunning for our jobs. Everybody around here is very happy for Alex Petrovic making the team. Not just his buddy. Glen Gulutzan said when Jim Nill told Petrovic to get a place in Dallas during camp, it was a “good event” for the whole team.