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Pre-Scout: Stars carry six-game point streak into Western Conference Final rematch
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Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Nov 4, 2025, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 4, 2025, 12:24 EST
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Revenge may be on the minds of the Dallas Stars — if you believe in that type of emotional handicapping of a game. 
As you know, the Oilers ousted the Stars in back-to-back years in the Western Conference Final, forcing Dallas into a coaching change. That prompted the return of then-Oilers assistant Glen Gulutzan to resume head coaching duties in Dallas, after a stint from 2011 to 2013. 
So far, Dallas sits in one of the wildcard spots at 6-3-3, not quite up to their projected Central Division status, but not in the doldrums by any means. 
The Stars have been a streaky team. They won three straight to start, lost their next four, and now ride a six-game point streak (3-0-3) upon their return home from an OT loss at Florida. 
Key contributors have faced injury. Roope Hintz has missed four games, Matt Duchene another eight. Jamie Benn hasn’t drawn into the lineup yet. 
Mikko Rantanen has unsurprisingly led the way with 14 points, Wyatt Johnston has a team-leading seven goals, and the likes of Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley patrol the backend at a high level. 
But with the injuries and subsequent deals over the off-season, this Stars team will look a little different than the last time these teams played on May 29.
Remember, the man who drew your ire and collided with Zach Hyman in Mason Marchment, now in Seattle, of course. Mikael Granlund or Evgenii Dadonov didn’t receive extensions. 
Jake Oettinger is also expected to miss tonight’s game following the birth of their child.
Managing their schedule will be important too, since 7-8 Stars threaten to make Olympic rosters.

Unsung heroes

But with the injuries come storylines as new names draw in. Justin Hryckowian was an undrafted free agent of Northeastern University who eventually found his way to the Texas Stars of the AHL. He won AHL Rookie of the Year and scored his first NHL goal on Saturday. 
The goal clinched a point for Dallas and completed a sequence he started, getting bloodied on a Seth Jones double-minor for high-sticking, creating the Johnston PP goal, and Hryckowian’s own 14 seconds later. 
“It’s been great, just learning how to be an NHLer,” Hryckowian said. “It’s a great group to be around. There are obviously ups and downs, and you take it with a grain of salt and keep growing my game and keep contributing in as many ways as possible.”
Another player being rewarded is one-time Oiler Adam Erne. Missing most of last season with a hip injury, Erne worked his way into a job with a strong showing from a PTO. While his one goal and one assist this year doesn’t wow you, he is part of a team that has been more than willing to grind their way through games.
A big reason why is that the offence has been just OK, or at least easy to find. The Stars scored five goals in each of their first three games, but since then have never scored more than three. Four times, they’ve been held to one or no goals.  

Powerplay

Glen Gulutzan’s primary duties in Edmonton were headmanning the vaunted Oilers power play, which boasted the highest success rate in the NHL over the past five years at 27.4 per cent. 
Dallas’s PP was middle of the pack last year at 22 per cent, but Gully’s touch has them flying at a 31.7 per cent clip thus far. In fact, the Oilers are one of just two teams running hotter.
They haven’t missed him in terms of production. Paul McFarland at the helm has resulted in a 33.3 per cent PP, scoring just eight seconds into their lone attempt in St. Louis on the wicked Jack Roslovic one-timer.
The special teams will be a focus, considering the Gulutzan storyline, particularly as the Stars’ PK is at 72.2 per cent. The Oilers are at 80.6.
Especially because in order to win, the Oilers will have to get to work. Dallas is comfortable playing a mucky game, which can also lead to power plays.

Notes:

  • Tyler Seguin is healthy, and that’s not been said so often lately in Dallas. He recovered from hip surgery in time to rejoin the Stars and play in that West Final. On Saturday, he played in his 1000th game, and will be honoured by the Stars in December. He’s had a strange career. Taylor vs Tyler. The subsequent trade and growing up process following his exit from Boston. At times, he threatened to join Art Ross Trophy races, but never surpassed 80 points. His point totals aren’t reaching those heights anymore, five points in 12 games this year.
  • Thomas Harley seems to have stolen the shine from Miro Heiskanen, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he makes Team Canada. He committed to the long term in Big D, inking an eight-year extension worth $84.7 million. Right now, his $4 million cap hit is one of the best values going.
  • Extra time hasn’t been kind to Dallas: 1-3 this year in games past regulation, and with the Oilers, that matters.
  • The Stars had their most home wins last year in a decade with 28. This year? 3-2-1.
  • The only good thing for Dallas to come out of their Monday Night Football game loss to the Arizona Cardinals was the announcement from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that AT&T Stadium will play host to an outdoor game on Feb. 20, 2027. Opponent unnamed. Meanwhile, Cardinals injured QB Kyler Murray wore a 1999 Stars Mike Modano jersey to the game. Slick fit, Kyler. 
  • Lineups may be long. It’s Mikko Rantanen Bobblehead Night.
  • If you exclude the playoffs, the Oilers are 5-5 vs the Stars in the last 10 in the regular season. But in Dallas, Edmonton lost the last two 5-0 and 4-1.

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