Stars Face Hurricanes in High-Stakes NHL Showdown

DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes, both tied with 59 points in their respective divisions, will clash Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center in a pivotal NHL matchup. The game, set for 8 p.m. CT, will test the Stars’ home dominance against the Hurricanes’ resilience on the road.

The Stars, boasting a 29-16-1 record, have been formidable at home with a 76-6-1 mark. Carolina, at 28-16-3, has struggled on the road, posting a 10-11-2 record. Both teams rank second in their divisions, making this a critical game for playoff positioning.

Stars forward Jason Robertson enters the game on a five-game point streak, with 27 points in his last 20 games. Robertson has been particularly effective at home, leading the team with 24 points in 24 games. Against Carolina, he has 18 points in 13 career games. Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, meanwhile, has six points in his last seven games and 33 points this season.

Dallas will rely on backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, who has started 12 games this season. DeSmith’s presence has historically shifted betting lines, with the Stars going 6-6 in his starts. Carolina will counter with Frederik Andersen, who recently returned from injury.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer praised young forward Wyatt Johnston, who has stepped up in the absence of injured players. Johnston, who wore the alternate captain’s ‘A’ recently, has 21 points in his last 22 games. “He’s gone to another level, and we needed that,” DeBoer said.

The Hurricanes rank last in blocked shots but lead the league in shot attempt differential at 58.9%. Dallas, fourth in goal differential at plus-33, will look to exploit Carolina’s defensive vulnerabilities.

With both teams vying for playoff momentum, Tuesday’s game promises high stakes and intense competition.