Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV: Prime Video (Stars market/national elements), MSGSN (Devils); ESPN+ in many out-of-market areas
This interconference clash features two strong early-season teams. The Devils ride a three-game winning streak into a road back-to-back (Colorado follows on Wednesday), while the Stars enter on a five-game win streak and boast elite defensive metrics. A major storyline is Connor Hellebuyck making his Devils debut after a recent trade from Winnipeg.
Current Player Rosters & Projected Lineups
New Jersey Devils (projected):
Forwards: Arseny Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt; Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Luke Evangelista; Anthony Mantha – Evan Rodrigues – Jesper Boqvist; Amadeus Lombardi – Cody Glass – Connor Brown.
Defense: Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce; Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton; Brendan Dillon – Johnathan Kovacevic.
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (expected debut starter) / Jake Allen. Scratches typically include Declan Chisholm and Remi Poirier. Jack Hughes leads the attack, with Arseny Gritsyuk providing scoring punch.
Dallas Stars (projected):
Forwards: Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Tyler Seguin; Joel Kiviranta – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen; Jamie Benn – Arttu Hyry – Dylan Hryckowian; Colin Blackwell – Justin Hryckowian – Matthew Seminoff.
Defense: Thomas Harley – Miro Heiskanen; Lian Bichsel – Nils Lundkvist; Kyle Capobianco – Tyler Myers.
Goalies: Jake Oettinger (primary) / Casey DeSmith. Scratch: David Perron. Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston anchor a balanced attack.
Listed Injury Reports
Devils:
Seamus Casey (D): Out (knee; longer-term/IR).
Minimal other absences reported for this game; Hellebuyck is available for his debut.
Stars:
Matt Duchene (C): Out (abdomen/core; long-term).
Esa Lindell (D): Out (lower body; skating but days away).
Oskar Bäck (F): Out (finger; LTIR).
Radek Faksa (C): Out (lower/upper body).
Sam Steel (C/F): Out/day-to-day (undisclosed).
Additional depth: Cameron Hughes (upper body).
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Jack Hughes / Jesper Bratt / Arseny Gritsyuk vs. Miro Heiskanen / Thomas Harley: New Jersey’s dynamic top line against Dallas’s elite top defensive pair. Hughes’ speed and playmaking will test Heiskanen’s two-way excellence.
Mikko Rantanen / Wyatt Johnston / Jason Robertson / Roope Hintz vs. Luke Hughes / Brett Pesce and Devils secondary pairs: Dallas’s scoring depth against New Jersey’s mobile defense.
Nico Hischier’s two-way game and faceoff strength vs. Stars’ centers: Hischier’s reliability in all zones.
Goaltending – Connor Hellebuyck (debut) vs. Jake Oettinger (excellent early: low GAA, high SV%, multiple shutouts): Elite goaltending duel. Oettinger has been among the league’s best; Hellebuyck’s debut adds intrigue.
Special teams: Both PPs are mid-pack; Stars’ PK has been outstanding early (~92%). Faceoffs favor Dallas.
Recent Team Forms
Devils (7-4-0): Three-game winning streak, including a solid 3-1 win over Los Angeles. Strong at home but mixed on the road. Averaging solid offensive output with improving structure. Jack Hughes and Gritsyuk have been key contributors.
Stars (7-3-1): Five-game win streak (including a 6-3 win over the Islanders). Elite defensive numbers (league-best or near-best goals against). Capable of grinding low-scoring wins or exploding offensively. Home form strong.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026-27 season. Recent prior seasons have been competitive, with split results in some campaigns. Dallas has generally been strong at home.
Betting Trends
Dallas’s defensive excellence and home ice support the favorite and under. New Jersey’s recent form and Hellebuyck’s arrival keep the underdog viable, especially with the +1.5.
Game Odds
New Jersey Devils 5.5
Dallas Stars – 112
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 26, 2026
