Hughes made his Dallas Stars debut in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, his third career game, but he will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. Defenseman Kyle Capobianco will enter the lineup as Hughes' replacement, suggesting the Stars intend on using an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation on Thursday.
The Stars have followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing seven of their last nine (2-5-2). Oettinger, who was nearly unbeatable to start March, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and seven games (5-0-2), has mimicked his team's decline by ending March with a dreadful 4.01 GAA and .806 SV% in his last four appearances (1-2-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0) to stay within contention of a Wild Card spot.
The Stars have followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing seven of their last nine (2-5-2). Oettinger, who was nearly unbeatable to start March, posting a stellar 1.80 GAA and seven games (5-0-2), has mimicked his team's decline by ending March with a dreadful 4.01 GAA and .806 SV% in his last four appearances (1-2-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favourites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0) to stay within contention of a Wild Card spot.
Myers briefly exited Dallas' previous game due to an injury but returned shortly after. That said, he will not play on Tuesday, allowing Ilya Lyubushkin to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Myers has two assists in 11 games since joining the Stars at the trade deadline.
Tyler Meyers (undisclosed) was banged up in Dallas' previous game and will not play on Tuesady, allowing Lyubushkin to re-enter the lineup. Since the acquisition of Tyler Myers at the trade deadline, Lyubushkin has fallen out of favour in Dallas, playing in just one of their last 12 games.
Bunting exited Sunday's 2-1 loss to Philadelphia in the first period after only 3:46 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Already without Radek Faksa (upper body), Sam Steel (lower body), Nathan Bastian (undisclosed), and Roope Hintz (lower body), the Stars' forward group has taken some hits over recent weeks, with Bunting being the latest. That said, Stars' Head Coach Glen Gulutzan said following the game that Bunting still needs to be reevaluated, but the initial belief is that it will not be a long-term injury.
With Michael Bunting (lower body) out of the lineup, Hughes will draw in for his team debut. Hughes was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft that has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has an impressive 66 points (16G / 50A) in 63 games this season with the Texas Stars (AHL).
Oettinger was lightly tested in his previous game, allowing three goals on 12 shots (.750 SV%), but was victorious in a 6-3 contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old Oettinger has a 2.31 GAA and .906 SV% in 10 March appearances (6-1-2), and a win on Tuesday would make March the winningest month of the season for him. The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as -128 road favourites against a Boston Bruins team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.
Hughes was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft that has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 29-year-old forward has an impressive 66 points (16G / 50A) in 63 games this season with the Texas Stars (AHL).
Bunting exited Sunday's 2-1 loss to Philadelphia in the first period after only 3:46 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Already without Radek Faksa (upper body), Sam Steel (lower body), Nathan Bastian (undisclosed), and Roope Hintz (lower body), the Stars' forward group has taken some hits over recent weeks, with Bunting being the latest. That said, Stars' Head Coach Glen Gulutzan said following the game that Bunting still needs to be reevaluated, but the initial belief is that it will not be a long-term injury.
Rantanen did not play in Finland's Bronze Medal victory over Slovakia at the Olympics and has been sidelined since the NHL resumed action. Rantanen has missed the last 15 games, but could return to the lineup as soon as Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before his injury, the 29-year-old was having an outstanding first full season with the Stars, scoring 69 points (20G / 49A) in 54 games.
