Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Puck Drop: 9:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. CT)
Television/Streaming: TNT, truTV, HBO Max; additional regional options (SN1 noted in some listings)
Context: Season opener for both teams and a Central Division matchup. Dallas hosts after a first-round playoff exit the prior spring; St. Louis opens a multi-game road trip.
Current Rosters / Key Players
Dallas Stars (projected)
Forwards feature Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin (returning from prior ACL recovery), Jamie Benn, and depth pieces. With Matt Duchene unavailable, lineup adjustments include Sam Steel or others shifting roles. Defense led by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley. Goaltending expected to feature Jake Oettinger.
St. Louis Blues (projected lines)
Line 1: Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
Line 2: Connor McMichael – Mason McTavish – Pavel Buchnevich
Supporting lines with Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky, and others.
Defense: Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, Philip Broberg, Brandon Carlo, Justin Barron (recent claim), Theo Lindstein. Goaltending tandem of Joel Hofer and Jordan Binnington (starter TBD). New faces include McTavish and McMichael.
Injury Reports
Dallas Stars
Matt Duchene (C) – Out / LTIR (lower body; setback in camp recovery; minimum 10 games/24 days, earliest potential return around Oct. 25).
Additional shorter-term IR notes: Cameron Hughes, Tristan Bertucci, Harrison Scott, and others with undisclosed or upper-body issues (some expected back in early October).
St. Louis Blues
Logan Mailloux (D) – Out / IR (hand surgery; re-evaluated in approximately eight weeks).
Tyler Tucker (D) – Out / IR (knee; arthroscopic procedure, re-evaluated in about six weeks).
Other notes include longer-term absences such as Torey Krug (ankle).
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Jason Robertson / Wyatt Johnston vs. Blues defense (Parayko/Broberg): Dallas’s high-scoring wingers against St. Louis’s restructured blue line missing two regulars.
Robert Thomas / Dylan Holloway vs. Stars centers and Heiskanen: Blues’ top playmaking and speed against Dallas’s structured defense.
Mason McTavish / Connor McMichael (new Blues additions) vs. Stars depth: Testing how quickly the new pieces integrate.
Goaltending – Jake Oettinger vs. Joel Hofer or Jordan Binnington: Oettinger’s experience in big games versus the Blues’ tandem competition.
Special teams: Dallas’s strong power play (historically elite) against a Blues group adjusting to absences.
Recent Team Forms
Dallas Stars (0-0-0): Coming off a strong regular season the prior year (50-20-12 range in some references) but a first-round playoff exit. Preseason results were competitive. Home opener energy and core continuity (minus Duchene) are positives.
St. Louis Blues (0-0-0): New-look roster with key additions (McTavish, McMichael, Carlo). Preseason mixed; defensive depth tested by early injuries. Opening on the road against a strong Central foe presents a challenge.
Series History
Central Division rivals with competitive recent meetings. Dallas has generally held the edge in recent seasons (taking the majority of games last year, often by narrow margins). Home ice has been a factor, and both sides produce structured, physical hockey.
Betting Trends
Trends favor the home favorite in openers, especially a team with Dallas’s recent regular-season success. Value can appear on the Blues’ puck line given early-season variance and Dallas’s center absence. Totals reflect moderate expectations with both sides capable of defensive play.
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues 6
Dallas Stars – 180
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, October 1, 2026
