Sam Nestler
@samnestler.bsky.social
Dallas Stars beat writer & show host at DLLS.
Casey DeSmith earned the start tonight against Washington. Played well in relief last night.
Nathan Bastian will come in for Adam Erne, and Kyle Capobianco will replace Alex Petrovic on the blue line.
Let’s see if some fresh legs are the answer.
Nathan Bastian will come in for Adam Erne, and Kyle Capobianco will replace Alex Petrovic on the blue line.
Let’s see if some fresh legs are the answer.
January 7, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Casey DeSmith earned the start tonight against Washington. Played well in relief last night.
Nathan Bastian will come in for Adam Erne, and Kyle Capobianco will replace Alex Petrovic on the blue line.
Let’s see if some fresh legs are the answer.
Nathan Bastian will come in for Adam Erne, and Kyle Capobianco will replace Alex Petrovic on the blue line.
Let’s see if some fresh legs are the answer.
Justin Hryckowian has earned himself a new contract!
Dallas signed Hryckowian today to a two-year deal with a $950,000 AAV.
Dallas signed Hryckowian today to a two-year deal with a $950,000 AAV.
January 7, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Justin Hryckowian has earned himself a new contract!
Dallas signed Hryckowian today to a two-year deal with a $950,000 AAV.
Dallas signed Hryckowian today to a two-year deal with a $950,000 AAV.
This was a big game tonight.
But tomorrow in Washington is HUGE for this Dallas team. They have made a great habit over the years of avoiding extended losing streaks. They absolutely have to respond against the capitals.
But tomorrow in Washington is HUGE for this Dallas team. They have made a great habit over the years of avoiding extended losing streaks. They absolutely have to respond against the capitals.
January 7, 2026 at 2:41 AM
This was a big game tonight.
But tomorrow in Washington is HUGE for this Dallas team. They have made a great habit over the years of avoiding extended losing streaks. They absolutely have to respond against the capitals.
But tomorrow in Washington is HUGE for this Dallas team. They have made a great habit over the years of avoiding extended losing streaks. They absolutely have to respond against the capitals.
Thomas Harley has really had a tough time defending this season.
That 2-on-1 is another example of it -- takes no one and allows the no-no pass across the box. Great save by DeSmith to bail him out.
That 2-on-1 is another example of it -- takes no one and allows the no-no pass across the box. Great save by DeSmith to bail him out.
January 7, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Thomas Harley has really had a tough time defending this season.
That 2-on-1 is another example of it -- takes no one and allows the no-no pass across the box. Great save by DeSmith to bail him out.
That 2-on-1 is another example of it -- takes no one and allows the no-no pass across the box. Great save by DeSmith to bail him out.
Adam Erne is not on the bench to start the third.
Didn't think he looked okay after that big hit. Played a few shifts and even hit a crossbar. But now stays in the room.
Didn't think he looked okay after that big hit. Played a few shifts and even hit a crossbar. But now stays in the room.
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Adam Erne is not on the bench to start the third.
Didn't think he looked okay after that big hit. Played a few shifts and even hit a crossbar. But now stays in the room.
Didn't think he looked okay after that big hit. Played a few shifts and even hit a crossbar. But now stays in the room.
Mikko "drag you into the fight" Rantanen.
January 7, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Mikko "drag you into the fight" Rantanen.
Dallas has zero shots nearly midway through the second period.
January 7, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Dallas has zero shots nearly midway through the second period.
Casey DeSmith coming in for Jake Oettinger not even midway through the second.
Tough to do when you have a back-to-back. Could see Oettinger right back in tomorrow in Washington.
Tough to do when you have a back-to-back. Could see Oettinger right back in tomorrow in Washington.
January 7, 2026 at 1:22 AM
Casey DeSmith coming in for Jake Oettinger not even midway through the second.
Tough to do when you have a back-to-back. Could see Oettinger right back in tomorrow in Washington.
Tough to do when you have a back-to-back. Could see Oettinger right back in tomorrow in Washington.
Seth Jarvis doing exactly the same thing that got him hurt is so hockey player.
Nils Lundkvist called for the penalty after getting beat to the outside. He has struggled, but really, who hasn't?
Stars in danger of getting blown out in Carolina.
Nils Lundkvist called for the penalty after getting beat to the outside. He has struggled, but really, who hasn't?
Stars in danger of getting blown out in Carolina.
January 7, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Seth Jarvis doing exactly the same thing that got him hurt is so hockey player.
Nils Lundkvist called for the penalty after getting beat to the outside. He has struggled, but really, who hasn't?
Stars in danger of getting blown out in Carolina.
Nils Lundkvist called for the penalty after getting beat to the outside. He has struggled, but really, who hasn't?
Stars in danger of getting blown out in Carolina.
Carolina is absolutely teeing off on Dallas.
Open players in the slot. Losing coverage. Losing battles. Hurricanes shooting, recovering, reracking, and getting the Stars spinning.
Yuck.
Open players in the slot. Losing coverage. Losing battles. Hurricanes shooting, recovering, reracking, and getting the Stars spinning.
Yuck.
January 7, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Carolina is absolutely teeing off on Dallas.
Open players in the slot. Losing coverage. Losing battles. Hurricanes shooting, recovering, reracking, and getting the Stars spinning.
Yuck.
Open players in the slot. Losing coverage. Losing battles. Hurricanes shooting, recovering, reracking, and getting the Stars spinning.
Yuck.
Stanky.
He's had trouble scoring this season, but that one probably feels very, very good against the team that traded him.
He's had trouble scoring this season, but that one probably feels very, very good against the team that traded him.
January 7, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Stanky.
He's had trouble scoring this season, but that one probably feels very, very good against the team that traded him.
He's had trouble scoring this season, but that one probably feels very, very good against the team that traded him.
LOT of pace in Raleigh tonight.
January 7, 2026 at 12:42 AM
LOT of pace in Raleigh tonight.
I didn't see much traffic blocking Oettinger's sight line on that point shot from Gostisbehere.
But his reaction (one that players, and Luds, hate to see, by the way) of shrugging and throwing his hands up made it look like he was screened.
Canes back on top.
But his reaction (one that players, and Luds, hate to see, by the way) of shrugging and throwing his hands up made it look like he was screened.
Canes back on top.
January 7, 2026 at 12:40 AM
I didn't see much traffic blocking Oettinger's sight line on that point shot from Gostisbehere.
But his reaction (one that players, and Luds, hate to see, by the way) of shrugging and throwing his hands up made it look like he was screened.
Canes back on top.
But his reaction (one that players, and Luds, hate to see, by the way) of shrugging and throwing his hands up made it look like he was screened.
Canes back on top.
Lol, precisely the goal the Stars needed to get off the PP schnide. Bussi had it in his gear (looked like it was tucked under his blocker), but didn't know and flipped over in panic, throwing it into his own net.
Probably should've been blown dead, but Dallas will take it.
Probably should've been blown dead, but Dallas will take it.
January 7, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Lol, precisely the goal the Stars needed to get off the PP schnide. Bussi had it in his gear (looked like it was tucked under his blocker), but didn't know and flipped over in panic, throwing it into his own net.
Probably should've been blown dead, but Dallas will take it.
Probably should've been blown dead, but Dallas will take it.
Sam Steel is cursed.
January 7, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Sam Steel is cursed.
Carolina likes to shoot the pucks from bad angles. Oettinger has done a good job controlling rebounds.
But allowing a breakaway and an easy and clean cross-ice backdoor pass is probably not going to work.
But allowing a breakaway and an easy and clean cross-ice backdoor pass is probably not going to work.
January 7, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Carolina likes to shoot the pucks from bad angles. Oettinger has done a good job controlling rebounds.
But allowing a breakaway and an easy and clean cross-ice backdoor pass is probably not going to work.
But allowing a breakaway and an easy and clean cross-ice backdoor pass is probably not going to work.
Radek Faksa has officially been named to Team Czechia for the Olympics.
January 6, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Radek Faksa has officially been named to Team Czechia for the Olympics.
Nathan Bastian’s AHL conditioning stint is over. He scored two game-winning goals and a shootout winner in four games.
Casey DeSmith has also rejoined the team after his leave of absence. Rémi Poirier heads back to Cedar Park.
Casey DeSmith has also rejoined the team after his leave of absence. Rémi Poirier heads back to Cedar Park.
January 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Nathan Bastian’s AHL conditioning stint is over. He scored two game-winning goals and a shootout winner in four games.
Casey DeSmith has also rejoined the team after his leave of absence. Rémi Poirier heads back to Cedar Park.
Casey DeSmith has also rejoined the team after his leave of absence. Rémi Poirier heads back to Cedar Park.
Dallas has lost five straight (0-2-3).
It has been a tough stretch, but today, it was the missed opportunity on the late power play and too many penalties that doomed them against Montreal.
It has been a tough stretch, but today, it was the missed opportunity on the late power play and too many penalties that doomed them against Montreal.
January 4, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Dallas has lost five straight (0-2-3).
It has been a tough stretch, but today, it was the missed opportunity on the late power play and too many penalties that doomed them against Montreal.
It has been a tough stretch, but today, it was the missed opportunity on the late power play and too many penalties that doomed them against Montreal.
Yeesh. Wyatt Johnston falls off the faceoff loss in the D zone, but Matt Duchene is unable to recognize it and they both cover the same Hab up top.
That left super-skilled Lane Hutson all alone walking down the slot on his forehand. Not a good recipe.
That left super-skilled Lane Hutson all alone walking down the slot on his forehand. Not a good recipe.
January 4, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Yeesh. Wyatt Johnston falls off the faceoff loss in the D zone, but Matt Duchene is unable to recognize it and they both cover the same Hab up top.
That left super-skilled Lane Hutson all alone walking down the slot on his forehand. Not a good recipe.
That left super-skilled Lane Hutson all alone walking down the slot on his forehand. Not a good recipe.
Are you kidding me with that backhand pass from Mikko Rantanen to Esa Lindell?
This guy is just LOL. Draws a penalty crashing to the net and stays composed enough while falling down to get to the loose puck and spin to find Lindell wide open in the high slot.
Absurd.
This guy is just LOL. Draws a penalty crashing to the net and stays composed enough while falling down to get to the loose puck and spin to find Lindell wide open in the high slot.
Absurd.
January 4, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Are you kidding me with that backhand pass from Mikko Rantanen to Esa Lindell?
This guy is just LOL. Draws a penalty crashing to the net and stays composed enough while falling down to get to the loose puck and spin to find Lindell wide open in the high slot.
Absurd.
This guy is just LOL. Draws a penalty crashing to the net and stays composed enough while falling down to get to the loose puck and spin to find Lindell wide open in the high slot.
Absurd.
Hitting his head on the ice was scary, but Benn also looked to be in some serious pain before that.
Pain from the initial contact looked to take him right off his skates and he was unable to hold himself up or support the fall.
Didn't like the look of either end of that.
Pain from the initial contact looked to take him right off his skates and he was unable to hold himself up or support the fall.
Didn't like the look of either end of that.
January 4, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Hitting his head on the ice was scary, but Benn also looked to be in some serious pain before that.
Pain from the initial contact looked to take him right off his skates and he was unable to hold himself up or support the fall.
Didn't like the look of either end of that.
Pain from the initial contact looked to take him right off his skates and he was unable to hold himself up or support the fall.
Didn't like the look of either end of that.
Three minors in one period and three to key penalty killers. It's eventually going to catch up to you.
Stars now have 20 minutes to find the tying goal after things looked to be trending up with the Johnston goal.
Stars now have 20 minutes to find the tying goal after things looked to be trending up with the Johnston goal.
January 4, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Three minors in one period and three to key penalty killers. It's eventually going to catch up to you.
Stars now have 20 minutes to find the tying goal after things looked to be trending up with the Johnston goal.
Stars now have 20 minutes to find the tying goal after things looked to be trending up with the Johnston goal.
Overcommitment from Faksa and Lundkvist off the rush, and Kapanen SPANKS it inside the far post off a cross-ice pass.
What a pass and what a shot. But the rush was absolutely not handled well by Dallas.
What a pass and what a shot. But the rush was absolutely not handled well by Dallas.
January 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Overcommitment from Faksa and Lundkvist off the rush, and Kapanen SPANKS it inside the far post off a cross-ice pass.
What a pass and what a shot. But the rush was absolutely not handled well by Dallas.
What a pass and what a shot. But the rush was absolutely not handled well by Dallas.
Does any team do the tic-tac-toe bumper goal better than Dallas?
Wyatt Johnston from that spot off a quick pass by Mikko Rantanen. It's been on repeat all season.
Wyatt Johnston from that spot off a quick pass by Mikko Rantanen. It's been on repeat all season.
January 4, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Does any team do the tic-tac-toe bumper goal better than Dallas?
Wyatt Johnston from that spot off a quick pass by Mikko Rantanen. It's been on repeat all season.
Wyatt Johnston from that spot off a quick pass by Mikko Rantanen. It's been on repeat all season.