Game Details
Puckdrop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina. This is the home arena for the Carolina Hurricanes, with a capacity of approximately 18,700 for hockey games. It’s known for its passionate fanbase and has hosted the Hurricanes since 1999, featuring modern amenities and a history of intense playoff atmospheres.
Recent Team Forms
Dallas Stars: The Stars are mired in their worst slump of the season, going 0-3-2 in their last five games and winless in five straight overall (0-3-2). They’ve struggled with late-game execution and penalties, allowing 3.6 goals per game recently.
Their last five games:
Jan 4, 2026: L 3-4 OT vs. Montréal Canadiens (rallied late but fell in OT; Wyatt Johnston scored twice).
Jan 1, 2026: L 3-4 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (blew a lead; poor third period).
Dec 28, 2025: L 1-4 vs. Buffalo Sabres (outshot and outworked; limited to 22 shots).
Dec 26, 2025: L 3-4 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (close but defensive lapses).
Dec 23, 2025: L 3-4 OT vs. Detroit Red Wings (OT loss; competed but couldn’t close). Overall form: L-OTL-L-L-OTL, with a -5 goal differential in the last five. Road form is strong overall (13-3-5), but recent penalties have hurt (0-7 ATS in last seven road games).
Season stats: 3.48 GPG (2nd), 2.79 GAA (6th), 25.3 shots per game (29th).
Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes snapped a three-game regulation losing streak with a recent win but have gone 2-3-0 in their last five, focusing on defensive stabilization and penalty killing.
Their last five games:
Jan 4, 2026: W 3-1 at New Jersey Devils (strong PK went 5-for-5; gritty defensive effort).
Jan 2, 2026: L 3-5 vs. Colorado Avalanche (outscored in second half; allowed five goals).
Dec 31, 2025: L 5-7 vs. Montréal Canadiens (high-scoring loss; defensive breakdowns).
Dec 29, 2025: L 1-5 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (shut down offensively; one goal on 28 shots).
Dec 27, 2025: W 3-2 vs. New York Rangers (tight win; efficient special teams). Overall form: W-L-L-L-W, with a -4 goal differential in the last five. Home form is middling (13-8-1), but they’ve gone 5-2 SU in their last seven vs. Western opponents.
Season stats: 3.36 GPG (5th), 3.05 GAA (14th), 32.05 shots per game (2nd).
Series History
The Dallas Stars hold a historical edge over the Carolina Hurricanes (including Hartford Whalers era), leading the all-time regular-season series 54-40-6-3.
In the last 10 meetings, Dallas is 5-3-2, outscoring Carolina by an average of 0.3 goals per game. Head-to-head this season: No prior meetings in 2025-26. Recent trends show unders in 7 of the last 8 vs. Metropolitan opponents for Dallas, and Carolina is 4-1 SU in their last five vs. Central Division teams. Games average 5.9 combined goals, with Carolina winning 5 of the last 9 at home.
Injury Report
Dallas Stars:
Jamie Benn (LW): Day-to-day (upper-body; facial injury from Jan 4 game, expected to miss start of road trip but return by Jan 10).
Tyler Seguin (C): Out for season (torn ACL; knee injury).
Lian Bichsel (D): Out (lower-body; rehab progress positive, expected return Feb 25).
Casey DeSmith (G): Out (personal reasons; on IR).
Kyle McDonald (RW): Out (knee; on IR).
Carolina Hurricanes:
Jaccob Slavin (D): Out (upper-body; on IR, expected return Jan 6 but day-to-day).
Seth Jarvis (C): Out (ribs/upper-body; on IR, expected return Jan 6 but day-to-day).
Pyotr Kochetkov (G): Out for season (hip/lower-body; surgery, expected return Sep 2026).
Charles-Alexis Legault (D): Out (hand/torn extensor tendons; on IR until Mar 2).
Both teams are dealing with key absences, thinning defenses and impacting goaltending rotations (Frederik Andersen likely starts for CAR amid a nine-game losing streak).
Key Player Matchups
This inter-conference battle features offensive stars and defensive tests, with Carolina’s speed challenging Dallas’s physicality. Expect a focus on special teams and neutral-zone play.
Wyatt Johnston (DAL, F) vs. Sebastian Aho (CAR, F): Johnston (recent multi-goal games, 25 points) brings emerging scoring vs. Aho (team-leading points, consistent playmaker). Aho’s two-way game could neutralize Johnston’s drives.
Jason Robertson (DAL, F) vs. Brent Burns (CAR, D): Robertson (top scorer, 40 points) tests Burns’ veteran shutdown defense (strong PK). This wing-defender matchup decides perimeter control.
Roope Hintz (DAL, F) vs. Jordan Staal (CAR, F): Hintz (speedy center, 30 points) matches Staal’s faceoff prowess (55% wins) and checking; key for possession in a low-event game.
Jake Oettinger (DAL, G) vs. Frederik Andersen (CAR, G): Oettinger (.910 SV%) aims to rebound from slump vs. Andersen (amid nine-loss streak, .890 SV%). Goaltending could swing a close contest.
Betting Trends
Dallas Stars: 16-26 ATS overall (10-11 ATS away). They’ve gone 21-20-1 on over/under (12-9 O/U away). Trends: 0-5 SU in last five games, over in 4 of last five overall, but under in 7 of last eight vs. Metropolitan opponents; 1-4 SU vs. Eastern Conference lately.
As underdogs, they’re 4-5 SU and 5-4 ATS.
Carolina Hurricanes: 15-27 ATS overall (7-15 ATS home). 21-20-1 on over/under (13-8-1 O/U home). Trends: 3-6 SU in last nine games, under in 5 of last six vs. Dallas, but over in 4 of last five home games; 5-2 SU vs. Western Conference.
As favorites, they’re 20-5 SU but 12-13 ATS.
Head-to-Head: Dallas 5-3-2 in last 10; under in 7 of last 10 (average 5.9 goals); Carolina 5-4-1 ATS. NHL trends: Home favorites like Carolina are 55% ATS vs. slumping teams; inter-conference games hit the under 58% with totals around 6.5.
Game Odds
Dallas Stars 6.5
Carolina Hurricanes – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 5, 2026
