Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan watches play during the third period of the season opening game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
It had been 155 days since the Dallas Stars last played a game that counted, but the conversations Friday weren’t all that different.
“We weren’t creating many chances 5-on-5,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said after his team’s season-opening 4-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Less than six months ago, the Stars suffered an early exit from the playoffs in just six games to the Minnesota Wild after being outscored 14-4 at 5-on-5 in the series. They entered the offseason planning to do a deep dive into offensive analytics and to make some changes to improve those numbers.
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But after one game, the same problems appeared to persist.
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) lays on the ice alongside defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) after giving up a goal to St. Louis Blues right wing Dalibor Dvorsky during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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A bloody Dallas Stars right wing Arttu Hyry (25) skates to the penalty box after a fight with St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbours during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues right wing Jimmy Snuggerud (21) scores an empty-netter as Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) defends during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) hits St. Louis Blues left wing Connor McMichael (77) into the boards during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) smothers the puck in front of defenseman Thomas Harley (55) and St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) pushes the puck up the ice during the third period of the season opening game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell (23) lays on the ice as St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (center) plays the puck during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) skates on the ice after returning to the game following a collision with a St. Louis Blues player during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (6) smiles as he talks at St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) handles the puck in front of St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues right wing Jonatan Berggren (29) crashes into Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars fans boo after a no penalty was called against St. Louis Blues right wing Jonatan Berggren (29) for crashing into Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) uring the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) grabs his knee after a knee-to-knee hit with St. Louis Blues defenseman Brandon Carlo during the third period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas. Hintz later returned to the game.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) skates to the penalty box to serve a penalty for too many men on the ice during the second period of the season opening game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) hits St. Louis Blues right wing Jonatan Berggren (29) into the boards during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) hits St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) trips over St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg (6) and goaltender Joel Hofer (30) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbours (63) tosses his gloves as he fights Dallas Stars right wing Arttu Hyry (25) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) skates off the assistance with defenseman Colton Parayko (55) and a trainer after a collision along the boards with two Dallas Stars players during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko (13) lays on the ice in pain after a collision with Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel and center Tyler Seguin (91) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) blocks a shot from Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) during the second period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) skates back during the first period of the season opening game against the St. Louis Blues on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) hits St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) into the boards during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) looks to pass behind the goal of St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) plays the puck ahead of St. Louis Blues right wing Jonatan Berggren (29) during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) looks back as the St. Louis Blues hold the puck behind the net during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Joel Kiviranta (22) shoots the puck towards goal as St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) and right wing Dalibor Dvorsky (15) defend during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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St. Louis Blues left wing Dylan Holloway (81) steals the pucks from Dallas Stars center Sam Steel (18) during the first period of the season opening game on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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A fan takes a selfie as the Dallas Stars warm up before their season opener against the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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A fan takes a selfie as the Dallas Stars warm up before their season opener against the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson signs autographs for fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) walks through hundreds of fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) high-fives a fan before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Fans wait for Dallas Stars players before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (left) and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn greet fans and sign autographs before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger autographs a jersey for a young fan before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel greets fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel waves to fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (6) walks to the American Airlines Center before the season opener on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Sam Steel signs an autograph for Braxton Sevatson, 8, and Nathan Sevatson before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston greets fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston walks past fans before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin signs a cowboy hat for Rockwall resident Olivia Mitchell before the season opener outside the American Airlines Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Dallas.
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The Stars actually had an 18-15 advantage in 5-on-5 scoring chances in Friday’s loss. They outshot the Blues 25-24.
But where they didn’t capitalize on their opportunities, St. Louis did.
The Blues scored their first goal just 1:34 into the game off a rebound to an unmarked Mason McTavish. Then, when Jake Oettinger tripped over Roope Hintz in the second period, Dalibor Dvorsky had a wide-open net. The final two goals were empty-netters when the game was out of reach.
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Meanwhile, Joel Hofer posted a 24-save shutout. The Stars were shut out only three times in 82 games last season.
When it was a one- or two-goal game, the Stars had their chances to close the gap. They had four power-play opportunities, including three minutes up a man after a major and game misconduct were called on Brandon Carlo for a hit on Hintz. But the power play, which was the second-best in the league last season (28.6%), couldn’t convert either.
“We got some looks, but we just couldn’t score today,” Hintz said.
While disappointed to drop the first game of the season, the Stars didn’t put too much weight in the offense not being able to perform in one game.
“We’ve got to do a better job with being prepared,” Tyler Seguin said. “It’s not preseason anymore. But I don’t know. It’s one game.”
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Gulutzan and his players said they expect the system changes to become more comfortable over time.
But Friday’s loss also gave them a glimpse at how fragile their scoring depth is.
The Stars are down a 20-goal scorer this season after GM Jim Nill had to trade Mavrik Bourque to Nashville because he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford him. They’re also beginning the season without Matt Duchene, who scored 16 goals in just 57 games season but was placed on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He’ll be out until at least Oct. 25.
Then, early in the third period, Carlo’s hit on Hintz left the center on the ice holding his knee in pain. He needed to be helped down the tunnel.
While he returned just minutes later and said after the game that he felt “fine” and “lucky,” the Stars knew it could have been far worse.
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“I was quite concerned,” Gulutzan said.
They could just be one injury away from some serious offensive issues — and Friday’s loss didn’t show anyone yet ready to take more responsibility for the team’s scoring.