Dallas Stars Kick Off the 2025-26 Season with a Win
The Dallas Stars started their 2025-26 season Thursday night with a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets on the road. Dallas struck early, taking its first lead just 3:15 into the game. Winnipeg kept it close through two periods, but the Stars broke away with three goals in the first 3:23 of the final period to go up 5-1.
Winnipeg climbed back into the game to make it 5-4 with three minutes remaining, but the Stars walked away with a narrow win. Here are five takeaways from the Stars’ season-opening win:
Key Takeaways from the Game
The Stars were the better team for the first 45 minutes, but some problematic mistakes allowed Winnipeg to climb back into the game despite trailing by four goals early in the third period. The Jets trailed 5-1 with about 16 minutes left in regulation. The Stars had a power play at around the 10-minute mark.
But the Jets proceeded to score twice on that Stars’ power play, closing the gap to 5-3. Kyle Connor scored his third goal of the night to complete the hat trick with three 3:03 remaining after an uncharacteristic mistake by Miro Heiskanen, who fell down in the defensive zone.
Mikko Rantanen’s Impressive Start
Mikko Rantanen begins the largest contract in Stars’ history this season — an eight-year, $96 million deal he signed after joining via trade ahead of last season’s March deadline. Rantanen showed what he could do in the playoffs, recording nine goals and 13 assists in 18 postseason games.
Based on Game 1, it appears that may be the case. Rantanen scored a goal and had two primary assists on Dallas’ first three goals of the season. He logged 18:48 of ice time and three shots on goal. Rantanen’s goal came just over three minutes into the game after a solid forecheck by his line with Sam Steel and Roope Hintz.
Concerns and Areas for Improvement
The Stars certainly have some things to clean up after Game 1. Dallas also had a costly defensive lapse in the first period on Connor’s first goal. The elite Jets’ scorer was left wide open in front of the net.
Then, Thomas Harley committed a delay of game penalty with 2:52 left to give Winnipeg a power play down one goal. The Stars’ penalty kill came up big to preserve the win.
Glen Gulutzan’s Line Combinations
Gulutzan said during training camp that he wasn’t married to any line combinations early in the season. He showed that in the season opener. Seven different line combinations saw at least 2:29 of ice time Thursday night.
The combination that saw the most ice time as a trio was Dallas’ fourth line of Justin Hryckowian, Radek Faksa and Nathan Bastian. That’s because Gulutzan mixed his top nine frequently. Steel started with Rantanen and Hintz but was later replaced by Robertson.
Special Teams Performance
There were some impressively good and bad moments for the Stars on special teams Thursday. Let’s start with the bad. It took the Stars a little while to get going on the power play. They did score once, but on their next man-advantage, Dallas gave up two short-handed goals in the same power play — one to Morgan Barron and one to Connor.
That simply can’t happen. It sparked a late push for the Jets, who almost forced overtime. But on a more positive note, the Stars did notch a power-play score in their first game of the year. Robertson scored on a shot by Rantanen early in the third.
A More Physical Start
One of Gulutzan’s missions was to make the Stars a tougher and more physical team. That appeared to be installed in the opener. Physicality doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, as Winnipeg still had more hits with a 33-21 advantage.
But the Stars were gritty and aggressive in their season-opener. Hintz and Rantanen were among the leaders, both taking roughing penalties. The two division rivals were chippy, and the Stars were able to hold their own.
The Stars’ roster is filled with impressive young talents like Wyatt Johnston.
The last time these two teams faced off, it was Game 7 of their epic playoff series last season.
Conclusion
The Dallas Stars’ season-opening win was a thrilling game that showcased the team’s strengths and weaknesses. With Mikko Rantanen’s impressive start, Glen Gulutzan’s line combinations, and the team’s physical play, the Stars are looking to make a strong run this season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who scored the first goal for the Dallas Stars?
A: Mikko Rantanen scored the first goal for the Dallas Stars just over three minutes into the game.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The final score was 5-4 in favor of the Dallas Stars.
Q: Who had a hat trick in the game?
A: Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets had a hat trick in the game.
Q: What is Mikko Rantanen’s contract with the Dallas Stars?
A: Mikko Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million deal with the Dallas Stars.
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