Stars Game Day: NHL Lineup, Oettinger in Goal vs Avalanche

The preseason is winding down and the Stars will roll out a much heavier NHL lineup in their final home matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. 

After multiple moves made over the weekend, Dallas has narrowed their roster down to 37 players as of Monday. Tonight, many of those who have a shot at the opening night roster will be in the lineup. 

Among those NHL guys is newcomer Mason Marchment, who Stars fans have yet to see since he has played both of his preseason games on the road. 

“It’s going to be fun,” he said of playing at home. “I got to watch a couple games up top and the fans seemed to be pretty into it even for exhibition. It’s exciting and should be fun.”

Marchment will be part of a familiar line from training camp, playing on the wing with Roope Hintz and Denis Gurianov. Although this line was put together far too early to look deep into it, the coaching staff seemed to like what they brought to the table. Now, we get to see what they can do against another team in a game situation. 

“They are both some of the fastest guys in the league,” Marchment said of his linemates. “I think me using my body and creating space for those guys is probably the biggest thing. Making room and making it easy for them.” 

Head Coach Pete DeBoer spoke on Saturday about the urgency that he wanted to see from his group in the final week of preseason. Now, the roster has been cut down to one group and it is time to get mentally and physically prepared for regular-season play. 

“It’s time this week to really dial our group in,” DeBoer said. “We are down to one group, we haven't played well in the two home games here, so it's time.” 

Something that Dallas has struggled with over the years is starting quickly when the season begins. They have gotten off to historically bad starts in recent history and ended up chasing the playoffs because of it. DeBoer is well aware of that and knows the importance of a better start in 2022-23. 

“We want to get off to a quick start this season,” he said. “I think historically this hasn't been a quick starting team, so there's an emphasis on that. You don't just flip that switch next week, that starts now.” 

Notes

• Jake Oettinger will start and is expected to play at least two periods, if not the full game
• Fredrik Olofsson will play tonight over other bubble players: Damiani, Karlstrom, and Back

• Two of the three biggest prospects will play tonight (Wyatt Johnston and Mavrik Bourque). Logan Stankoven will not

Stars Projected Lines

• Marchment-Hintz-Gurianov
• Benn-Johnston-Olofsson
• Kiviranta-Faksa-Pavelski
• Peterson-Bourque-Glendening
• Heiskanen-Hakanpää
• Lindell-Lundkvist
• Suter-Miller
• Oettinger
• Khudobin

Avalanche Expected Lineup

He Said It 

“For me, it's more getting guys in games and really, building chemistry…I am still figuring out who may have chemistry,” DeBoer said. “I don’t want to not try things in case some guys that we never thought would, might have chemistry.”