Here's a look at the projected lineups for tonight's matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames. The game is set to take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome at 10 p.m. ET, with coverage on CBC, SN, CITY, and Victory+.
Stars Aim to Continue Road Success
The Dallas Stars (13-5-3) are enjoying a strong season, currently sitting second in the Central Division. They are coming off a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, extending their road record to an impressive 7-1-2. Dallas has won six of their last seven games.
The Stars will be fielding the same 18 skaters who contributed to their win against the Canucks.
Here’s the projected lineup for the Stars:
- Forwards: Sam Steel, Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen / Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin / Oskar Back, Justin Hryckowian, Mavrik Bourque / Jamie Benn, Radek Faksa, Colin Blackwell
- Defense: Esa Lindell, Miro Heiskanen / Lian Bichsel, Alexander Petrovic / Vladislav Kolyachonok, Kyle Capobianco
- Goaltenders: Casey DeSmith, Jake Oettinger
Key players to watch for the Stars include Jason Robertson, who had a point in every game against the Flames last season. Robertson is currently on a five-game goal streak, with nine goals and 13 points in that span. Mikko Rantanen also boasts a five-game point streak. Jake Oettinger is expected to start in net, backed up by Casey DeSmith. Oettinger stopped the final 25 shots he faced against Vancouver.
The Stars have several players on the injured list including Adam Erne (lower body), Matt Duchene (upper body), Nils Lundkvist (lower body), Ilya Lyubushkin (undisclosed), and Thomas Harley (lower body). Matt Duchene participated in Dallas' morning skate Saturday and is day to day. Nathan Bastian is expected to be scratched.
Flames Look to Build on Recent Win
The Calgary Flames (6-13-3) are looking to build momentum after a 6-2 road win against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, which snapped a two-game losing streak. However, the Flames are currently last in the league standings.
The Flames are expected to ice the same lineup they used in their victory over the Sabres.
Here’s the projected lineup for the Flames:
- Forwards: Jonathan Huberdeau, Morgan Frost, Matt Coronato / Yegor Sharangovich, Nazem Kadri, Joel Farabee / Connor Zary, Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman / John Beecher, Sam Morton, Adam Klapka
- Defense: Kevin Bahl, Rasmus Andersson / Yan Kuznetsov, MacKenzie Weegar / Jake Bean, Brayden Pachal
- Goaltenders: Devin Cooley, Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley will be making consecutive starts for the first time this season. Matt Coronato has scored in three consecutive games, and Rasmus Andersson has also recorded points in his last three games (two goals, four assists).
The Flames will be without Martin Pospisil (undisclosed), Zayne Parekh (upper body), and Samuel Honzek (upper body) due to injuries. Honzek is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery. Joel Hanley, Ryan Lomberg, and Dryden Hunt are expected to be scratched.
Keys to the Game
The Stars have won the last three meetings against the Flames. Dallas has a potent offense, ranking among the league's top teams in goals scored and power-play efficiency. Calgary will need to capitalize on their scoring chances and stay out of the penalty box to avoid giving the Stars' power play opportunities. The Flames will be treating the game like a road game, despite being at home.
