The Tampa Bay Lightning (29-13-4) face off against the Dallas Stars (27-12-9) in a cross-conference matchup between two teams vying for playoff positioning. The Lightning, sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 62 points, are coming off a shootout loss but have been dominant in recent weeks. The Stars, second in the Central Division with 63 points, hold a slight edge in the standings but have struggled lately, dropping six of their last eight games. This game pits Tampa’s high-powered offense against Dallas’ stout defense, though injuries could play a major role. With both teams dealing with slumps and key absences, expect a low-scoring affair at the American Airlines Center.
Venue Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas. This 20,000-seat arena has been the Stars’ home since 2001 and is known for its passionate crowd, especially in matinee games.
Puckdrop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT, 1:00 p.m. local time in Dallas). The game will be broadcast on NHL Network, with local feeds on The Spot (Tampa Bay market) and Victory+ (Dallas market). Radio coverage is available on WDAE 100.7 FM for Lightning fans and KTCK 1310 AM for Stars listeners.
Recent Team Forms
The Lightning have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last month, winning eight of their past 10 games before a recent stumble. They’ve outscored opponents 42-22 in that stretch, showcasing offensive depth despite injuries. The Stars, conversely, have hit a rough patch, losing seven of their last 10, including three straight home defeats. Their offense has dried up, averaging just 2.4 goals per game in January.
Here’s a breakdown of each team’s last 10 games:
| Date | Opponent | Result (Lightning) | Score |
| Jan 16 | vs. St. Louis Blues | L (SO) | 2-3 |
| Jan 13 | vs. Pittsburgh Penguins | W (SO) | 2-1 |
| Jan 10 | vs. Philadelphia Flyers | W | 7-2 |
| Jan 6 | vs. Colorado Avalanche | W | 4-2 |
| Jan 3 | vs. San Jose Sharks | W | 7-3 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Los Angeles Kings | W | 5-3 |
| Dec 30 | at Utah Hockey Club | W | 4-1 |
| Dec 28 | at Vegas Golden Knights | W | 3-2 |
| Dec 26 | vs. New York Rangers | L | 1-4 |
| Dec 23 | vs. Florida Panthers | W | 5-2 |
Overall: 8-1-1 in last 10 (17 points).
| Date | Opponent | Result (Stars) | Score |
| Jan 15 | vs. Utah Hockey Club | L | 1-2 |
| Jan 12 | at Los Angeles Kings | W | 3-1 |
| Jan 10 | at San Jose Sharks | L (OT) | 4-5 |
| Jan 7 | vs. Washington Capitals | W | 4-1 |
| Jan 6 | vs. Carolina Hurricanes | L | 3-6 |
| Jan 4 | vs. Montreal Canadiens | L | 3-4 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Chicago Blackhawks | L | 3-4 |
| Dec 30 | at Minnesota Wild | W | 2-1 |
| Dec 28 | vs. Edmonton Oilers | L | 2-5 |
| Dec 26 | at Seattle Kraken | W | 4-3 |
Overall: 4-5-1 in last 10 (9 points).
Injury Report
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Brayden Point (C): Out (lower body) – Expected return Feb. 5. A massive loss, as Point leads the team with 28 goals and 55 points.
Victor Hedman (D): Out (elbow surgery) – Expected return Feb. 1. Tampa’s top defenseman (45 points) is sidelined, weakening the blue line.
Ryan McDonagh (D): Out (undisclosed) – Expected return Jan. 20.
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg (D): Out (undisclosed).
Scott Sabourin (RW): Out (undisclosed) – Expected return Jan. 26.
The Lightning are without three key defensemen and their star center, forcing reliance on depth players like Darren Raddysh (recently with power-play assists).
Dallas Stars:
Miro Heiskanen (D): Expected to return today after missing time (undisclosed). His presence bolsters the defense with 7 assists in recent games.
No other major injuries reported, though the team has dealt with minor ailments in forwards like Rodrigo Abols (lower body, sidelined indefinitely but not a key player).
Dallas enters relatively healthy, giving them an edge in depth.
Key
Player Matchups
This game features elite talent on both sides, but Tampa’s injuries shift the focus to their remaining stars against Dallas’ balanced lineup.
Nikita Kucherov (TB F) vs. Miro Heiskanen (DAL D): Kucherov leads the NHL with 65 points (28 goals, 37 assists) and thrives on the power play. He’ll test Heiskanen, who returns to anchor Dallas’ top pair and has 4 goals and 7 assists in limited recent action. Expect Kucherov to exploit gaps, but Heiskanen’s speed could neutralize him.
Jason Robertson (DAL F) vs. Darren Raddysh (TB D): Robertson paces the Stars with 27 goals and 121 shots, using his shot volume to create chances. Raddysh, stepping up with 4 assists recently, will need to contain him on the rush.
Wyatt Johnston (DAL F) vs. Jake Guentzel (TB F): Johnston (25 goals) brings youth and scoring touch for Dallas, while Guentzel (22 goals) provides secondary offense for Tampa amid absences.
Goaltending: Andrei Vasilevskiy (TB) vs. Jake Oettinger (DAL): Vasilevskiy (22-9-2, 2.45 GAA) remains elite despite team injuries, but Oettinger (20-8-5, 2.30 GAA) has the edge at home with better recent form (under 2.00 GAA in last five starts).
Other keys: Tampa’s power play (20.41%, 15th in NHL) vs. Dallas’ penalty kill (85%, top-10). Dallas’ even-strength play could dominate if Tampa’s depleted defense falters.
Series History
The all-time series is dead even at 32-32-3 for Tampa against Dallas (including playoffs). Tampa has dominated recently, going 13-5 straight up in the last 18 meetings and 8-3 on the road in the last 11. The under has hit in 7 of the last 9 games between these teams. Last meeting: Tampa won 2-1 in OT on Oct. 30, 2025. In the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, Tampa beat Dallas 4-2 for the title.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Tampa is 7-3 against the spread in last 10 road games; Dallas is 4-6 ATS in last 10 overall.
Over/Under: The under is 6-0 in Tampa’s last 6 games and 7-2 in the last 9 head-to-head matchups. Dallas games have gone under in 8 of last 10 home contests.
Other Trends: Tampa is 7-1 SU on the road in last 8; Dallas is 2-5 SU in last 7 home games. Power-play goals have been rare in this series (under 1.5 in 6 of last 8).
Game Odds
Tampa Bay Lightning – 125
Dallas Stars 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, January 17, 2026
