Schedule / Matchup Preview

Montreal Canadiens vs Dallas Stars · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Stars · SUN · DEC 27 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
SUN · DEC 27 · 6:00 PM CT
Centre Bell
Prime Video
Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens
1–0–1
VS
Dallas Stars
Stars
0–2–0
Upcoming
SUN · DEC 27 · 6:00 PM CT
Prime Video
Montreal Canadiens
Home · Canadiens
1–0–1
3 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Chris Kreider has solved Casey DeSmith before, 5 goals on 34 shots. But the problem is Jason Robertson, who has 5 points in his last 4 against the Canadiens.
Centre Bell
Dallas Stars
Away · Stars
0–2–0
0 PTS
Canadiens
GOALIES
Stars
Jakub Dobes
Jakub Dobes
Expected
.862 SV% · 4.04 GAA · 1W
.882 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Casey DeSmith
Casey DeSmith
Expected
.923 SV% · 2.05 GAA · 0W
.912 SV% L5 · Steady
Canadiens
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Stars
L1
Cole Caufield · Nick Suzuki · Chris Kreider
L1
Justin Hryckowian · Wyatt Johnston · Mikko Rantanen
L2
Juraj Slafkovsky · Alex Newhook · Ivan Demidov
L2
Jason Robertson · Roope Hintz · Tyler Seguin
L3
Alexandre Texier · Phillip Danault · Kirby Dach
L3
Sam Steel · Arttu Hyry · Jamie Benn
L4
Zack Bolduc · Jake Evans · Josh Anderson
L4
Oskar Back · Radek Faksa · Colin Blackwell
D1
Mike Matheson · Noah Dobson
D1
Thomas Harley · Miro Heiskanen
D2
Lane Hutson · Alexandre Carrier
D2
Esa Lindell · Nils Lundkvist
D3
Jayden Struble · Arber Xhekaj
D3
Lian Bichsel · Tyler Myers
PP1
Juraj Slafkovsky · Nick Suzuki · Ivan Demidov · Cole Caufield · Lane Hutson
PP1
Wyatt Johnston · Roope Hintz · Mikko Rantanen · Miro Heiskanen · Jason Robertson
PP2
Chris Kreider · Alex Newhook · Alexandre Texier · Zack Bolduc · Noah Dobson
PP2
Jamie Benn · Justin Hryckowian · Tyler Seguin · Esa Lindell · Thomas Harley
PK1
Phillip Danault · Josh Anderson · Mike Matheson · Alexandre Carrier
PK1
Radek Faksa · Oskar Back · Esa Lindell · Miro Heiskanen
PK2
Jake Evans · Alex Newhook · Lane Hutson · Noah Dobson
PK2
Roope Hintz · Wyatt Johnston · Lian Bichsel · Thomas Harley
CanadiensProjected lines
L1
Cole Caufield · Nick Suzuki · Chris Kreider
L2
Juraj Slafkovsky · Alex Newhook · Ivan Demidov
L3
Alexandre Texier · Phillip Danault · Kirby Dach
L4
Zack Bolduc · Jake Evans · Josh Anderson
D1
Mike Matheson · Noah Dobson
D2
Lane Hutson · Alexandre Carrier
D3
Jayden Struble · Arber Xhekaj
PP1
Juraj Slafkovsky · Nick Suzuki · Ivan Demidov · Cole Caufield · Lane Hutson
PP2
Chris Kreider · Alex Newhook · Alexandre Texier · Zack Bolduc · Noah Dobson
PK1
Phillip Danault · Josh Anderson · Mike Matheson · Alexandre Carrier
PK2
Jake Evans · Alex Newhook · Lane Hutson · Noah Dobson
StarsProjected lines
L1
Justin Hryckowian · Wyatt Johnston · Mikko Rantanen
L2
Jason Robertson · Roope Hintz · Tyler Seguin
L3
Sam Steel · Arttu Hyry · Jamie Benn
L4
Oskar Back · Radek Faksa · Colin Blackwell
D1
Thomas Harley · Miro Heiskanen
D2
Esa Lindell · Nils Lundkvist
D3
Lian Bichsel · Tyler Myers
PP1
Wyatt Johnston · Roope Hintz · Mikko Rantanen · Miro Heiskanen · Jason Robertson
PP2
Jamie Benn · Justin Hryckowian · Tyler Seguin · Esa Lindell · Thomas Harley
PK1
Radek Faksa · Oskar Back · Esa Lindell · Miro Heiskanen
PK2
Roope Hintz · Wyatt Johnston · Lian Bichsel · Thomas Harley
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:18 AM CT Mike Heika · Oct 3 · 6:37 PM CT
Canadiens
INJURY REPORT
Stars
Oliver Kapanen
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Matt Duchene
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
Alexandre Carrier
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Harrison Scott
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 8
Bryce Pickford
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 17
Luke Krys
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Lucas Condotta
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Cameron Hughes
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Kaiden Guhle
IR · Groin (surgery) · Expected back Oct 23
Tristan Bertucci
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Jaxon Fuder
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
CanadiensInjury report
Oliver Kapanen
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Alexandre Carrier
DAY-TO-DAY · Undisclosed injury
Bryce Pickford
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 17
Lucas Condotta
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Kaiden Guhle
IR · Groin (surgery) · Expected back Oct 23
StarsInjury report
Matt Duchene
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
Harrison Scott
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 8
Luke Krys
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Cameron Hughes
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 5
Tristan Bertucci
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Jaxon Fuder
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 5
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:18 AM CT Mike Heika · Oct 3 · 6:37 PM CT
STORYLINE
The Canadiens lost their last game in overtime and are 1-0-1 in their first 2 games. The Stars have dropped 2 straight and are 0-2-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Chris Kreider has solved Casey DeSmith before, 5 goals on 34 shots. But the problem is Jason Robertson, who has 5 points in his last 4 against the Canadiens.

A milestone is in reach for Esa Lindell: 2 more points for 500 career points. Dallas has found Jakub Dobes beatable: .870 on 46 shots.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Chris Kreider has 5 goals on Casey DeSmith (34 shots).
(Montreal)
5 goals on Casey DeSmith
Matchup
Josh Anderson has 16 shots on Casey DeSmith without a goal.
(Montreal)
0/16 vs Casey DeSmith
Player
Jason Robertson has 5 points in his last 4 games against Montreal. See the games →
(Dallas)
5 pts, last 4 vs MTL
Milestone
Esa Lindell is 2 points shy of 500 career points.
498 career points
Goaltending
Jakub Dobes has struggled against Dallas — a .870 save % on 46 shots.
.870 SV% vs DAL
Milestone
Mikko Rantanen is 5 points shy of 1500 career points.
1495 career points