Injuries Pile Up as Stars Shuffle Lineup Ahead of Clash With Blue Jackets

Jamie Benn remains out, and that reality forces Pete DeBoer to lean into flexibility. Expect Jason Robertson with Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin to handle top matchups, chasing offensive-zone starts and controlled entries to ease the minutes load on the bottom six.

With Matt Duchene trending day to day after leaving last week's win and missing Thursday, the next card is Wyatt Johnston in a larger driver role.

Pairing Johnston with Mason Marchment and Mavrik Bourque balances forecheck pressure with a puck-touch playmaker who can feed the slot.

Nils Lundkvist's lower-body issue likely keeps the right side in flux. If he cannot go, Ilya Lyubushkin's safer first pass next to Thomas Harley becomes the default second pair, while Esa Lindell with Miro Heiskanen handles the heaviest defensive minutes and most of the first-wave breakouts.

Fourth-line usage probably leans defensive. Radek Faksa can absorb tough faceoffs, with Adam Erne's retrievals and Colin Blackwell's pace keeping shifts short and north. If Duchene dresses, slide Seguin to the wing on line two; if not, Sam Steel can bump up situationally while Faksa's line eats the grinder minutes.

The goaltending call feels straightforward. Jake Oettinger should get the crease after a controlled workload Saturday, with Casey DeSmith available if the script flips. Against a Jackets team that just kept its five-on-five structure intact in Tampa, Dallas will want early volume off the rush and a quick-up neutral zone to beat their layers.

As a fan and an analyst, this feels like a prove-it night for the Stars depth; the top six can trade chances, but the game swings on how the Faksa group tilts the ice.

Columbus kept its practice lines intact Monday, so Dallas knows the forecheck pressure points. The key is cleaner exits from pair two, using the middle as a release instead of glass-and-out. That reduces the Jackets' cycle time and preserves Dallas legs for the third.

Jamie Benn sits on injured reserve and is tracking for weeks, Matt Duchene is day to day after last week's collision, and Nils Lundkvist is being managed after Thursday's lower-body knock.

Oskar Bäck also remains on IR from the preseason. The club has not listed new timelines beyond reevaluations, but the pattern hints at short-term patchwork up front and on the right side of the blue line.

The mood around the rink still reads calm. Dallas has banked points early, and the structure remains sound. If the Stars win the middle of the ice and protect the slot, one timely Johnston finish might be enough.

Bottom line, survive this stretch, grab two against a travelling opponent, and let the cavalry get healthy for the week ahead.