Dallas Stars News

The Stars have allowed 16 goals in their last four games, with Jake Oettinger tending the twine (1-2-1), and will turn to DeSmith on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old DeSmith was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. He has a 2.42 GAA and .914 SV% in 20 appearances this season (12-6-0). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as slight -110 home favorites against a Lightning squad with points in three straight (2-0-1).

Ceci was absent from morning skate on Tuesday, tending to family issues, but will play in the evening against the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Ceci has fit in nicely early in his tenure with the Stars, averaging 21:00 time-on-ice, recording 28 blocks, 18 hits, and seven points (0G / 7A) in 15 games.

Heiskanen has not played since suffering a knee injury in late January and subsequently undergoing knee surgery at the beginning of February. Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer revealed that there is a possibility that Heiskanen won't be ready to play until the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Earlier in the week, Stars' GM Jim Nill indicated that the hope would be to have Heiskanen ready to play midway through the first round of the playoffs. The Stars have fared well without him in the lineup, but any absence will be a massive blow to their Stanley Cup hopes.

Ceci was absent from morning skate on Tuesday, tending to family issues, but is expected to play in the evening against the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Ceci has fit in nicely early in his tenure with the Stars, averaging 21:00 time-on-ice, recording 28 blocks, 18 hits, and seven points (0G / 7A) in 15 games.

Evgenii Dadonov will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, allowing Blackwell to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old Blackwell is averaging 11:41 time-on-ice and has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 52 games this season.

Dadonov was limited to 9:57 time-on-ice in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, well below his 13:50 average this season, recording a -2 plus/minus, and will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old Dadonov has been productive from a bottom-six role for the Stars lately, scoring 13 points (4G / 9A) in his last 19 games. Colin Blackwell will draw into the lineup as Dadonov's replacement.

The Stars have struggled since acquiring Mikko Rantanen in a massive blockbuster trade prior to the trade deadline, posting a 1-2-1 record, and will turn to Oettinger between the pipes on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks. Oettinger has struggled lately as well, allowing four or more goals in three straight games (0-2-1), posting an ugly .845 SV%. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.55 GAA and .907 SV% in 48 games this season (30-15-3). The Stars enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable -333 home favorites against a Ducks squad that defeated them 2-1 on February 4th.

With Lian Bichsel returning to the lineup on Sunday, Dallas did not utilize the services of Capobianco, who has been reassigned to Texas (AHL). The 27-year-old Capobianco played one game with Dallas earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 35 points (5G / 30A) in 49 games with the Texas Stars.

Bichsel did not practice on Thursday due to an illness and is not ready to join the team for the Friday night matchup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman is averaging 14:57 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games this season. Brendan Smith will draw into the Stars' lineup as Bichsel's replacement.

Lian Bichsel (illness) will not play against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday, allowing Smith to re-enter the lineup. The 36-year-old Smith last played on March 2nd. He is averaging 12:51 time-on-ice and has four points (0G / 4A) in 27 games this season.

The Stars enter a crucial game in their fight for the top spot in the Central Division on Friday and will lean on Oettinger between the pipes. Oettinger has been inconsistent at times this season and is coming off a poor outing where he allowed five goals on 27 shots in a 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old goalie has a 2.48 GAA and .909 SV% in 46 games this season (30-14-2). The Stars enter Friday's contest as +118 road underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets squad coming off a 2-1 win against the New York Rangers.

With Lian Bichsel's status uncertain for Friday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to an illness, Dallas has recalled Capobianco from Texas (AHL). The 27-year-old Capobianco played one game with Dallas earlier this season but has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 35 points (5G / 30A) in 49 games with the Texas Stars.

Bichsel is battling an illness that could keep him out of the lineup on the Stars' upcoming two-game road trip. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman is averaging 14:57 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 22 games this season.

Hintz exited Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers after taking a puck to the face and has not played since. The Stars received positive news, revealing no fracture, but Hintz will still be out of the lineup for roughly one week. Before being injured, the 28-year-old Hintz was producing at an elite rate, with 16 points (3G / 13A) during a six-game point streak. The Stars don't play until Friday, which Hintz has been ruled out for, but he could return to the lineup on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche.

MacDonell was a sixth-round pick, 189th overall, of the Dallas Stars in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has spent the past four seasons in the OHL, including scoring 47 points (24G / 23A) in 39 games with the Brampton Steelheads this season.