Dallas Stars vs. New Jersey Devils: Game Time, Broadcast, Injuries

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 4: Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the New Jersey Devils at the American Airlines Center on January 4, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 4: Mattias Janmark #13 of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the New Jersey Devils at the American Airlines Center on January 4, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

After dropping their first road game of the season, the Dallas Stars are back at it again tonight in New Jersey.

The Devils are currently the only undefeated team in the league, but the Dallas Stars will look to change that.

Last night was a frustrating loss that highlighted the issues with depth scoring on this team.

Jim Montgomery moved Alexander Radulov off of the first line, putting Blake Comeau up top in his place. That’s been something fans have speculated about all offseason, as there’s the idea that if three players are scoring really well together and no one else is, the coach could break them up and get multiple lines scoring.

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That’s exactly what didn’t happen last night. Instead of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin scoring on the top line while Radulov helped Valeri Nichushkin and Jason Spezza get some goals, no one was scoring, and that’s the risk of splitting up the one line that’s actually producing this season.

Other players need to start make a difference on the scoresheet, but getting that to happen shouldn’t come at the expense of any production at all. It’s not an easy spot for Montgomery to be in, but Jim Nill didn’t give him much of an option when he decided against signing any scoring depth this summer.

The only time the Stars did score last night was on the power play. Their special teams have been significantly better this season, but they need to seriously work on their 5-on-5 issues.

The Stars didn’t skate this morning since they played last night and had to travel, so we won’t know the lines until tonight, but it’s hard to imagine everything stays the same as last night. Some, if not all, of last night’s healthy scratches will likely come in.

Game Information

Dallas Stars (3-2-0) at New Jersey Devils (3-0-0)
6:00 PM CT – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
Away TV: FOX Sports Southwest (Josh Bogorad and Daryl Reaugh)
Home TV: MSG+ (Steve Cangialosi and Ken Daneyko)
Away Radio: Sportsradio 1310 AM and 96.7 FM The Ticket (Josh Bogorad and Daryl Reaugh)
Home Radio: WFAN (Matt Loughlin and Chico Resch)
Online Streaming: NHL.tv, Fubo.tv
Last Season vs. New Jersey: 1-1-0

Dallas Stars Injury Report

Martin Hanzal: Hanzal continues to be out indefinitely until later this season after his back surgery.

Stephen Johns: Johns is skating some, but his estimated return is still up in the air.

New Jersey Devils Injury Report

Jesper Bratt: Bratt had his jaw broken in early October and he’s on IR for the next few weeks, though he may start skating again this week. He took a puck to the face during a preseason practice.

Cory Schneider: Schneider had hip surgery in the offseason and is on IR, but he could possibly be back sometime this week.

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New Jersey will certainly put up a fight against the Stars tonight, and the Stars need to get some scoring started now if they want to have any chance of turning things around on the road.