Dallas Stars News

Lundkvist has essentially been a staple on the Stars' back end all season but will head to the press box Wednesday as a healthy scratch for the second half of their back-to-back road trip games. The 23-year-old defenseman just played his 100th career game with Dallas and has been enjoying a productive third career season with two goals, 14 points, 56 SOG, and +6 plus/minus in 40 games this year.

After participating in his first All-Star game over the weekend, Oettinger will tend the twice for the Stars on Tuesday. Oettinger and the Stars are riding a three-game winning streak despite allowing three or more goals in each contest, posting an ugly .867 SV%. Oettinger has had a forgettable first half of the season, posting a 3.04 GAA and .900 SV% through 28 games (16-9-2) and will hope a mental reset from the All-Star break can help him return to elite form.

Lyubuskin has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks. In his last three outings, Lyubushkin has a -4 plus/minus, one shot, and two hits.

The Ducks announced Lyubushkin's absence less than 15 minutes before puck drop, adding that he is day-to-day with the injury. Robert Hagg will draw into the lineup in his place.

Heiskanen will return to the lineup from a 10-game absence due to a lower-body injury, playing his first game since January 4th. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games. Heiskanen should re-take his role on the top powerplay unit, occupied by Thomas Harley in his absence.

Oettinger will start for the second straight game on Thursday in a favourable matchup against the low-scoring Anaheim Ducks, as the Stars are sizeable -326 home favourites. Oettinger has showcased a mixed bag of results all season, a trend that has continued since returning from a three-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four or more goals in five games (3-2-0), posting a serviceable .910 SV%.

Oettinger will start for the second straight game on Thursday in a favourable matchup against the low-scoring Anaheim Ducks, as the Stars are sizeable -326 home favourites. Oettinger has showcased a mixed bag of results all season, a trend that has continued since returning from a three-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four or more goals in five games (3-2-0), posting a serviceable .910 SV%.

DeSmith is responsible for the Canucks' only loss in their last nine games, but played very well in that performance, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 15th. DeSmith has been serviceable when called upon this season, posting a reliable 2.55 GAA and .915 SV% in 14 games (7-3-3). The Canucks, riding a three-game winning streak, are -241 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues club that has outscored their opposition 7-3 in their last two games (2-0-0).

DeSmith is responsible for the Canucks' only loss in their last nine games, but played very well in that performance, saving 40 of 43 shots (.930 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 15th. DeSmith has been serviceable when called upon this season, posting a reliable 2.55 GAA and .915 SV% in 14 games (7-3-3). The Canucks, riding a three-game winning streak, are -241 home favourites against a St. Louis Blues club that has outscored their opposition 7-3 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Heiskanen is expected to return in the coming days as Stars' general manager Jim Nill stated he expect Heiskanen to return for either Thursday or Saturday's game. Nill added that Heiskanen is at a point in his recovery where he would be able to play if it were the playoffs. After a slow start to the season with only seven points in his first 13 games (1G / 6A), Heiskanen was starting to come into his own, scoring 20 points (3G / 17A) in his last 24 games.

Robert Hagg will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Lyubushkin to return to the lineup after a one-game absence due to an upper-body injury. Lyubushkin has four penalty minutes and -4 plus/minus in his last two contests.

Oettinger surprisingly served as the backup for both games of a back-to-back set over the weekend after coming down with an illness, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Oettinger has won six of eight contests against the Red Wings in his young career while posting a 2.59 GAA and .896 SV%. The Stars, who have collected a point in two straight (1-0-1), are -135 road favourites against a Red Wings club that has won four of their last five.

Oettinger will look for his third straight win when he tends the twine on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. After a porous first start in his return from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots (.889 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, Oettinger has rebounded nicely, saving 51 of 53 shots faced (.962 SV%) over his last two games (2-0-0). The Stars are -129 road favourites against a Flyers club riding a four-game winning streak.

Oettinger struggled in his first game back from a four-week absence with a lower-body injury, allowing four goals on 36 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Nashville Predators, but was much better the following night, entering the game in relief of an injured Scott Wedgewood, saving 20 of 21 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars are -129 home favourites against a Los Angeles Kings team that ended an eight-game losing streak last night with a 5-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes and historically fared well against Oettinger, getting the better end of the score in two of three contests.