Game Day Guide: Stars at Penguins

When: Saturday, October 10 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: PPG Paints Arena

TV: Prime Video

Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM

Live Stats: NHL Game Center

Five Points 5️⃣

• The Dallas Stars face the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night for the first of two matchups this season. The two teams will meet for a final time this season on Nov. 22 in Dallas.
• Dallas is 72-72-14 all-time vs. Pittsburgh, including a 25-47-6 mark on the road.
• The Stars have won eight of their last 10 games played against the Penguins (8-2-0), dating back to Oct. 19, 2021. Dallas also has won their last three consecutive games played vs. Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena, outscoring them 17-5 during that span.
• Captain Jamie Benn enters Saturday's contest riding a six-game point streak against the Penguins, earning eight points (4-4—8) during that span. In all, Benn has registered 20 points (9-11—20) in 27 career games played vs. Pittsburgh. His six-game point streak against them is his longest active point streak against a single opponent.
• Defenseman Miro Heiskanen enters Saturday's matchup riding a four-game point streak against the Penguins, collecting five points (3-2—5) during that span. In 13 career games vs. Pittsburgh, Heiskanen has totaled nine points (3-6—9), while averaging 24:32 of time on ice per game. His 24:32 of time on ice per game against them is the ninth-best mark among active NHL skaters.

Players To Watch 👀

Stars forward Rantanen recorded a point on all four Dallas goals on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres (1-3—4) and has factored on five consecutive team goals dating back to Oct. 5. He also recorded his 26th career four-point game, tied with Artemi Panarin for the fifth most since his debut in 2015-16 according to NHL Stats. Rantanen enters Saturday's contest riding a three-game point streak, collecting six points (2-4—6) during that span. His six points (2-4—6) this season top Stars skaters while his two goals are tied for the team lead with Heiskanen. If Rantanen were to score or earn an assist on the team’s next goals, he would become the first Stars skater to factor in on six consecutive team goals since Joe Pavelski did so from Jan. 9 to 12, 2022 according to NHL Stats. In his career against Pittsburgh, Rantanen has recorded 19 points (6-13—19) in 17 games played, averaging 1.12 points per game. He recorded five points (3-2—5) on Dec. 10, 2024 (w/ COL) which tied his single-game career high (also: Jan. 24, 2024 vs. WSH). He enters Saturday's matchup riding a two-game point streak against the Penguins, putting up three points (1-2—3) during that span.

Penguins forward Tommy Novak has totaled five points (3-2—5) in four games played this season. Entering play Friday, his five points (3-2—5) top Penguins skaters while his three goals are tied for the team lead with Nick Robertson. During the 2025-26 campaign, Novak tallied 42 points (16-26—42) through 82 games, finishing seventh on the team in scoring. His 28 takeaways during the season ranked third among Pittsburgh skaters while his five power-play goals ranked fifth. In his career against Dallas, Novak has registered seven points (5-2—7) in 11 games played, carrying a plus-minus rating of +3.

First Shift 🏒

Dallas led the NHL in man advantage scoring last season (71 goals) and finished second to Edmonton in success rate at 28.6 percent. Wyatt Johnston set a franchise record for power play goals in a season, leading the league with 27, and four players finished with 19 or more points.

“When it’s clicking, it’s really good,” said forward Roope Hintz, who scored a power play goal Thursday at Buffalo. “We try to support each other everywhere and try to create those 2-on-1s. We can make plays when there is more room.”

Two seasons ago the Stars were 10th in the league with 55 power play goals, but they made some changes under new assistant coach Neil Graham. Dallas got a full season out of Rantanen, which helped, but Graham’s strategy was crucial in getting players into the right place. He also promoted more movement, which has been tough to defend.

On Thursday, Rantanen and Johnston forced defenders to move, and then Hintz found an opening in the slot. It was reminiscent of a lot of goals from last season.

“I think we’re all smart players who can see the reads and make the reads, and respond to that,” Johnston said.

The group has mostly been Rantanen, Hintz, Johnston, Robertson and Heiskanen. Also getting time has been Duchene, who currently is out with a lower body injury. This year, players such as Thomas Harley, Seguin and Benn could work in more.

“There’s good players all around me and I really enjoy it,” Rantanen said. “Miro is a really good passer and good skater, Robo and Johnny can score 50 goals apiece, and Roope is a big body and a great shot like we saw today.”

Opposing teams have had time to scout in the off-season, so when Dallas did not score on the man advantage in the first three games, there was some worry. But they know adjustments are a part of the NHL.

“There’s a little bit of a cat and mouse game with that, but you’re always looking to get better,” Johnston said, adding that success pushed the team last year. “It was the confidence. When you’re on a roll, you can ride that wave.”

The Stars are hoping they can get on another one of those rolls.

“There’s just a lot of good weapons,” Rantanen said. “So we have to just stay humble and keep working on it.”

Fresh Legs 💪

Glen Gulutzan re-arranged the schedule this week.

Seeing his team looked tired after playing three games in four nights, the Stars coach switched a Tuesday practice to Wednesday and said he liked the energy much better on Wednesday.

After that, the Stars had a nice start in a 4-0 win at Buffalo, and forward Rantanen said energy was a positive.

“We had our legs again, and I think that’s the key,” Rantanen said. “To play well, you have to skate well, and these last two games we’ve been playing really fast.”

Gulutzan said he appreciated the feedback.

“I’m glad he said that, because I reserve the right to give a day off after a game,” Gulutzan said.

The coach then gave a day off on Friday to get ready for the game against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Key Numbers 🔢

146:55

Jake Oettinger is working on a shutout streak of 146:55. His best is 154:20. The big goalie might have to wait to add to it as Saturday could be a Casey DeSmith game, as DeSmith used to play for the Penguins.

6

Hintz had 6 shots on goal, one power play goal, and went 12-of-17 in the faceoff circle against Buffalo.

12.4

Pittsburgh has 12.4 hits per 60 minutes through four games. That ranks last in the NHL.

He Said It 📢

“Our third, there was a little bit of score effects came in there. It’s an area of growth for us, that third period. When you’re up 4-0 there’s a lot of teams that’ll keep speeding up on you, and we sat back a bit. I don’t think we had a shot the first half. I don’t think we can have that mentality anymore. We want to change that.”

-Stars coach Glen Gulutzan on getting out-shot 11-3 in the third period Thursday while clinging to a 4-0 lead.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on X @MikeHeika.