Dallas Stars Season Opener Ends in 4–0 Loss After Big Hits and Close Calls

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

DALLAS — Opening night gave Stars fans plenty to react to Friday: a fight, big hits, close chances and a frightening moment when Roope Hintz went down holding his knee.

The crowd of 18,532 saw Hintz return and Dallas keep pushing, but never got to celebrate a Stars goal. St. Louis won 4–0, adding two late empty-net goals after Dallas stayed within two through most of the third period.

Waiting for a goal

The Blues needed just 1:34 to take the lead. Mason McTavish scored on his first shift with St. Louis, putting Dallas behind almost immediately.

The Stars had opportunities to answer, but too many plays ended before they could get a good shot away. Passes missed sticks, pucks bounced away and attempts from promising positions went wide.

When Dallas did get shots through, Joel Hofer stopped them.

The second period brought more pressure from the Stars. Dallas held the puck longer and spent more time in the offensive zone, but passes through the front of the net sometimes found no one there to finish.

“It was a slow start,” Miro Heiskanen said afterward. “I think we played pretty well in the second, but we couldn’t find a way to score.”

Dallas’ Arttu Hyry and St. Louis’ Jake Neighbours fought during the period, adding to the physical exchanges. Penalties also interrupted play.

“In a way it almost felt like preseason,” Tyler Seguin said. “The game flow fell and penalties ruined the flow.”

Dalibor Dvorsky scored at 13:05 of the second, extending the Blues’ lead to 2–0.

Coach Glen Gulutzan said Dallas struggled to get pucks out of its zone and deep into St. Louis’ end.

“They transitioned us pretty good, so I thought we fed them a little bit too much,” he said.

Gulutzan wanted more chances from Dallas on offense at even strength.

“We didn’t get a lot of looks five-on-five, and we have to get a little greasier in those hard areas early on,” he said.

A scare for Hintz

St. Louis appeared to score again early in the third, but Dallas successfully challenged for offside. The goal was overturned, keeping the Stars within two.

Then came a more troubling moment.

At 2:49, Blues defenseman Brandon Carlo caught Hintz with a knee-to-knee hit. Hintz went down holding his knee as Dallas players responded with pushing and shoving.

Officials reviewed the play and confirmed a five-minute kneeing major and game misconduct against Carlo. Thomas Harley received two minutes for cross-checking, leaving the teams at four-on-four before Dallas began its power play.

Hintz returned minutes later.

“I think I got a little lucky there,” he said afterward. “First, I thought something happened really bad, but I got back there really quick, so we’re all good.”

His return was encouraging after the hit, but Dallas could not score during the remaining major. Missed connections continued to disrupt the attack.

The crowd gets louder

Later in the third, a St. Louis player collided with Jake Oettinger at the net. No penalty was called. Fans booed, then broke into chants of “Refs, you suck.”

Dallas was killing Seguin’s four-minute high-sticking double minor. Oettinger stopped a one-timer and covered a loose puck during a scramble at his net. The Stars also created a shorthanded chance, but St. Louis stopped it.

Dallas killed the full penalty, preserving a chance to come back.

At the other end, a hard shot from the point went just wide. Hofer stopped another clear opportunity and turned away a rebound. Dallas kept getting close without getting a goal.

“We just couldn’t score,” Hintz said.

The last push

Dallas pulled Oettinger for an extra attacker and pressed around the St. Louis net again. Hofer held.

Jimmy Snuggerud scored into the empty net at 17:37. Fans began heading for the exits. Pius Suter added another empty-net goal 15 seconds later.

Dallas finished ahead in shots, 25–24. Hofer stopped all 25; Oettinger made 20 saves.

“There were miscues. That’s on us,” Seguin said. “We have to do a better job of being prepared and that it’s not preseason anymore.”

The Stars visit Nashville on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. CT.

“It’s one game and let’s get ready for tomorrow,” Seguin said.