The Dallas Stars roll into Columbus for tonight’s NHL regular season tilt, bringing a level of structural discipline that usually leaves opponents suffocating in the neutral zone. While the Blue Jackets are tasked with holding down the fort at home, they’ll need to do more than just survive the opening frame to keep pace with a Stars roster that rarely beats itself. If Dallas can maintain their usual shot suppression, Columbus is going to find that high-danger scoring chances are a luxury, not a given.
With a clean bill of health on both sides, there’s no shortage of depth for either coach to exploit, but the game will ultimately be decided by which goaltender is forced to bail out their defense more often. Expect a heavy reliance on top-six units to break the stalemate in what promises to be a grind-it-out affair. Head over to StreakChat to lock in your pick and join the discussion with other fans.