Tonight is the first game in a home-and-home series between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues. The series serves as the end of the regular season for both clubs – tonight is the Stars’ final road game of the regular season and the Blues’ final home game until the 2023-24 season.
While the long-since eliminated Blues have nothing to play for these next two days, the stakes are still high for the Stars. Thanks to the Winnipeg Jets’ win last night over the Minnesota Wild, Dallas has clinched home-ice for the first round. But they still have the division crown to contend for against the Colorado Avalanche, who are one point up on Dallas with the same number of games played.
For Dallas to win the Central and face off against the Seattle Kraken or Los Angeles Kings, they (realistically) need to win both games against the Blues while the Avalanche lose in any fashion to either the Jets or the Nashville Predators. Unfortunately, the Jets are locked into the second Wild Card spot, while the Predators have been eliminated from playoff contention. Neither team has anything to play for, which should make them easy wins for Colorado.
Then again, tell that to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks last night 5-2 and might miss the playoffs because of it. You can never count out the competitive drive of players on the ice, even when there’s little point in winning.
The same cam be said of the Blues tonight – let’s hope Dallas doesn’t take it easy.
Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Tyler Seguin – Max Domi – Ty Dellandrea
Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Evgeni Dadonov
Joel Kiviranta – Radek Faksa – Luke Glendening
Miro Heiskanen – Ryan Suter
Esa Lindell – Jani Hakanpää
Thomas Harley – Colin Miller
Although Jake Oettinger typically takes the first night of back-to-backs, Scott Wedgewood is expected to be in goal. Again, Dallas realistically needs to win both games, and giving Oettinger the second night arguably gives them the best odds.
Blues Lineup
Brandon Saad – Robert Thomas – Jordan Kyrou
Sammy Blais – Pavel Buchnevich – Kasperi Kapanen
Jake Neighbors – Braden Schenn – Jakub Vrana
Josh Leivo – Logan Brown – Tyler Pitlick
Nick Leddy – Colton Parayko
Torey Krug – Justin Faulk
Tyler Tucker – Calle Rosen
Similarly, the Blues are expected to start their backup for the first game, as Joel Hofer was the first goaltender off the ice.