The Ottawa Senators are continuing their lengthy road trip to kick off the new year with their first meeting of two with the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The two clubs meet twice in the next ten days; today and the 12th.

Dallas comes into this winners of two of their last three since the holiday practice fine occurred. They have also since signed Oscar Back to a two year extension.

The Stars have have had a quieter season than expected after the hot starts in Winnipeg and Minnesota. The cold season over their expected contributors with Hintz; Robertson; Johnston; Stankoven; and Heskianen have been part of the issue. Goaltending and special teams have helped them maintain their playoff stride as they have the the third best penalty kill and second best goals against.

Ottawa is starting 2025 with some good news as defender Artem Zub and goalie Anton Forsberg return to the lineup. Mads Soogard and Jacob Bernard-Docker will be the extras as the trip away from home continues onwards for the Senators.

Projected Lineups

Dallas Stars

Jamie Benn -- Matt Duchene -- Wyatt Johnston
Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz --Evgenii Dadonov
Oskar Back -- Mavrik Bourque -- Logan Stankoven
Colin Blackwell -- Sam Steel -- Arttu Hyry

Miro Heiskanen -- Thomas Harley
Nils Lundkvist -- Esa Lindell
Mathew Dumba -- Ilya Lyubushkin

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Scratched: Brendan Smith

Injured: Tyler Seguin (hip), Mason Marchment (face)

Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk -- Shane Pinto -- Ridly Greig
Adam Gaudette -- Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
Nick Cousins -- Josh Norris -- Claude Giroux
Cole Reinhardt -- Noah Gregor -- Zack Ostapchuk

Thomas Chabot -- Nick Jensen
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Tyler Kleven -- Artem Zub

Leevi Merilainen
Anton Forsberg

Scratched: Jacob Barnard-Docker, Nikolas Matinpalo, Mads Sogaard

Injured: Michael Amadio (head), David Perron (upper body), Linus Ullmark (back)

Players to Watch

Dallas — Matt Duchene — quietly leads this team in scoring with 33 points in 36 games. The former Senators’ forward has been often paid with Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin before the injury; the loss of Seguin has raised Duchene up the lineup.

Ottawa — Jake Sanderson — five points in his previous five, but remains tied for first in goals with Chabot and Jensen at two. Not enough offense coming back there on the blue line. A miserable -12 is last on the backend.

Predicted Score

DAL — 3

OTT — 2


More is coming…

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