Game Day Guide: Stars vs Blackhawks

When: Saturday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Where: United Center 

TV: Prime Video

Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM

Live Stats: NHL Game Center

Five Points 5️⃣

• The Dallas Stars face the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night for the first of four matchups this season. The two teams will meet again on Jan. 2 (in Dallas), Jan. 20 (in Chicago) and April 3 (in Dallas).
• Dallas is 128-139-43 all-time vs. Chicago, including a 52-81-20 mark on the road.
• The Stars have earned points in 10 of their last 13 games played against the Blackhawks (9-3-1), dating back to March 2, 2023. Dallas has also won seven of their last 10 games played vs. Chicago at United Center (7-3-0).
• Forward Mikko Rantanen enters Saturday’s contest riding a three-game point streak against the Blackhawks, earning six points (3-3—6) during that span. In all, Rantanen has registered 39 points (13-26—39) through 30 career games played vs. Chicago, averaging 1.30 points per game and carrying a plus-minus rating of +11. His 1.30 points per game against them is tied for the eighth-best mark among active NHL skaters to have played Chicago at least 10 times in their career.
• Forward Roope Hintz has recorded 26 points (14-12—26) in 28 career games against the Blackhawks, carrying a plus-minus rating of +7. His 14 goals are tied for his highest total against a single opponent (also: NSH). Hintz is the fourth highest-scoring player in the NHL vs. Chicago since the start of the 2020-21 season, totaling 25 points (13-12—25) in 22 games. His 13 goals against them during that span are tied for first, with Nashville’s Steven Stamkos and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl.

Players To Watch 👀

Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen scored Dallas’ first goal of the night in their last game – a 3-2 shootout win over the Avalanche – and now has six points (3-3—6) in his last six games played. Heiskanen has at least a point in five of the seven games he has played this season. His goal against Colorado was the 70th of his career, making him the seventh Finnish defenseman in NHL history to score 70 regular-season goals. Additionally, Heiskanen’s three goals were tied for the second-most in the NHL among defensemen this season entering play Friday, trailing only Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, who has scored six times this year. His three goals are just six shy of the nine he scored in 77 regular-season games last season. When Heiskanen has been on the ice during 5-on-5 play this season, the Stars are outscoring their opponents 6-2 and own a 52.4 expected goals for percentage according to Natural Stat Trick. In his career against Chicago, Heiskanen has compiled 21 points (3-18—21) in 32 games played, averaging 24:42 of time on ice per game. His 24:42 of time on ice per game against them ranks tied for seventh in the League among active skaters and his 21 career points against them is his highest total against a single opponent. Entering Saturday's matchup, Heiskanen has put up 11 points (1-10—11) in his last 10 games played against the Blackhawks, dating back to Dec. 29, 2023.

Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane has collected three assists in his last two games played and now has five points (1-4—5) through eight games this season, tied for fourth on the team in scoring. His two assists in Chicago's last game – a 4-3 overtime win over the Jets – passed Phil Housley (894) for the most assists by a U.S.-born player in NHL history (896), according to NHL Stats. Kane also leads all American-born skaters in total points (509-896—1,405). In his career against Dallas, Kane has registered 77 points (32-45—77) in 68 games played, carrying a plus-minus rating of +12 and averaging 1.13 points per game. His goals (32), assists (45) and points (77) against the Stars are all the highest mark among active NHL skaters.

First Shift 🏒

With a cap-strapped lineup and a thin prospect pool, the Stars have worked extra hard to find depth forwards in recent seasons.

Last year, college free agent Justin Hryckowian stepped up and contributed 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in his first NHL season. This year, that hidden gem might be Arttu Hyry.

Hyry (pronounced HOO-ROO), like Hryckowian, is an older player at 25. Also like Hryckowian, he had a great year in the AHL to get ready for the step up. So when the big Finn scored a shorthanded goal in a 3-2 shootout win at Colorado on Wednesday, nobody was surprised.

“He has hockey IQ,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “He’s smart. He’s not easy to play against, he’s got a good stick, big body, right shot and he’s competitive. Those guys are hard to play against.”

Hyry so far is averaging 14:07 time on ice per game and winning 65 percent of his faceoffs. He has eight shots on goal in seven games and broke through with a pretty marker on a breakaway. His backhand/forehand move looked very good.

“My dad used to tell me to always do that move, so maybe it was instinct,” Hyry said.

Hyry had 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists) in 67 games with the Texas Stars in the AHL two seasons ago, so he definitely has a scoring pedigree. Hryckowian jumped up from 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) in 67 AHL games with Texas and became a big depth scorer for Dallas last season, so there is a good path.

“You need those guys,” said Gulutzan. “You need guys to step up.”

Injury Update ⭐

Dallas currently is missing Matt Duchene (core injury), Wyatt Johnston (illness) and Oskar Bäck (finger), so the depth is getting tested every day. The Stars signed veteran Perron on Friday, but he won’t play Saturday against Chicago.

Johnston might be ready to go. But players like Hyry, Hryckowian, Colin Blackwell and Joel Kiviranta are important pieces right now.

“They just gave us so much energy,” Gulutzan said of the win in Colorado. “I thought against Colorado, those forwards were really good. Blacky had some really effective minutes, Kivi made some good little plays and I thought Artty was a horse. We need those guys when you’ve got injuries like we do.”

Key Numbers 🔢

561

Chicago forward Patrick Kane surpassed Mike Modano last season as the all-time U.S. born scorer and has 1,405 points to Modano’s 1,374. However, Modano still leads Kane in total goals at 561 to 509.

39

Stars forward Rantanen has 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 30 career games against Chicago, including 6 (3 goals, 3 assists) in his past 3 games.

1,239

Newly-signed free agent [David] Perron is now second on the Stars in NHL games played at 1,239. Benn has 1,259.

He Said It 📢

“Obviously, the veteran presence is there. But in his actual play, just how good he is along the walls. He’s heavy and hard on pucks, he’s got huge hockey IQ, he’s competitive. That’s the reason we got him.”

-Stars coach Glen Gulutzan on Perron, who will not play Saturday but will join the team Monday in Texas

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.