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Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 324: Round 1, Game 1 Reactions

Wes and Mark welcome Taylor Baird for some piping hot takes on how the Stars’ playoffs have begun.

Defending Big D's Stargazing podcast logo, featuring a Dallas Stars Victory Green cassette tape with tearaway jersey texture and nets over the sprocket holes, designed by Jason Lara
Logo design: Jason Lara | @NHLMaps

There is nothing wrong with the Dallas Stars. Their systems work, and so does their lineup. And this Minnesota Wild team is still exactly what we thought it was. So how do we square these things with the…effort we saw in Game 1?

To make sense of Saturday’s loss, we needed to bring in the big guns. So Wes and Mark tackled the topic with NHL.com‘s Taylor Baird – whom you also know as DBD’s editor-in-chief. They went over the lines that worked (and didn’t), the injuries that still dog the team, and what the Stars will do to rally after getting punched in the face.

The Stars have a history of losing the first game in a Stanley Cup Playoffs round, then going on to win the series. We’re Stargazing, and we’re taking the long view for as long as we can.

What’s your take on Game 1? Let us know in the comments. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share wherever you listen. It’s the daily affirmation that we love most of all.

Welcome to Stargazing. We love you.

Well, the Dallas Stars exited the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs sooner than anyone wanted. It's going to be a long summer for all of us. What now? In this episode of Stargazing, Wes and Mark examined the takeaways from the Stars' all-too-short run. And along with the obvious issues (injuries, penalties, name it), they found some surprisingly positive evidence for the future (and you may or may not be surprised at how much of it probably ties into the promotion of Neil Graham). So are you rooting for the asteroid, or the giant truck? We're Stargazing, and we're keeping our options open. Bonus question: What will you look for in the next NHL Draft? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D. And please give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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