The Dallas Stars are set to take on the Los Angeles Kings in an exciting NHL matchup on Thursday evening, with puck drop scheduled for 9 p.m. ET at the American Airlines Center. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+. Currently, the Stars sit 12th in the Western Conference with 6 points from a 3-3 record, while the Kings are closely trailing in 14th place, also accumulating 6 points with a 2-3-2 record.
In terms of player availability, both teams will be missing key players due to injuries. The Stars will be without Jamie Benn (lung issue) and Nils Lundkvist (lower body injury), while Matt Duchene (upper body) and Oskar Back (undisclosed) are classified as day-to-day. On the Kings’ side, Kyle Burroughs is out with an upper body injury, and Anze Kopitar is sidelined due to a foot injury.
Statistical leaders from recent games show that Mikko Rantanen has made a significant impact for the Stars, contributing seven points over six games, which includes three goals and four assists. Goaltender Jake Oettinger has faced 138 shots, allowing 16 goals thus far, resulting in a goals-against average of 3.2 and an .896 save percentage.
On the Kings’ roster, Adrian Kempe has stood out with nine points this season—averaging 1.3 points per game, comprising three goals and six assists across seven games, while playing approximately 19:14 per game. In goal, Darcy Kuemper has recorded 83 saves while allowing 11 goals, resulting in a 2.7 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage.
This matchup is a crucial one for both teams as they seek to gain momentum early in the season. With key players unavailable and rising stars looking to make their mark, fans can expect an eventful night of hockey.