Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Dallas Stars 4/5/2025

Evgeni Malkin could be back in time to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (30-34-12, 72 points, 7th place Metropolitan Division) @ Dallas Stars (50-21-5, 104 points, 2nd place Central Division)

When: 3:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: National broadcast on ABC, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Pens finish up the road swing on Sunday in Chicago, then return home for a rematch with Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena next Tuesday.

Opponent Track: For the second straight game, the Penguins are matching up with one of the hottest teams in the NHL. The Stars have won seven straight heading into Friday, and they’ve outscored opponents 18-5 over their last four wins. Most recently the Stars recovered from a slow start to score five straight goals in 5-1 victory over the visiting Nashville Predators.

Season Series: The Stars rode a six-goal first period to a 7-1 blowout of the Pens in Pittsburgh back in November.

Hidden Stat: Dallas could tie a franchise record with an eighth consecutive win tonight

Getting to know the Stars

Projected lines (from Friday’s practice)

FORWARDS

Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Mikko Rantanen

Mason Marchment – Matt Duchene – Mikael Granlund

Sam Steel – Wyatt Johnston – Mavrik Bourque

Evgenii Dadonov – Oskar Back – Colin Blackwell

DEFENSEMEN

Esa Lindell – Cody Ceci

Thomas Harley – Ilya Lyubushkin

Lian Bichsel – Matt Dumba

Goalies: Jake Oettinger, Casey DeSmith

Scratches: Brendan Smith, Jamie Benn (day-to-day)

IR: Tyler Seguin, Miro Heiskanen, Nils Lundkvist

• DLLS Sports’ Sam Nestler predicts it will be former Penguin Casey DeSmith getting the start tonight, while the Stars will save first-stringer Jake Oettinger for a Sunday road matchup against the Minnesota Wild.
• Jamie Benn had played 371 consecutive games before sitting out Thursday’s win over the Nashville Predators for what coach Pete DeBoer said was “maintenance” reasons. DeBoer said Benn is again “doubtful” for tonight’s game, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News.
• Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen are still sidelined but could potentially return in time for the playoffs, DeBoer told reporters Friday (h/t Assimakopoulos.)

Player stats

(via hockeydb)

• Mikko Ratanen, trade-and-signed from the Carolina Hurricanes at the deadline, is settling in nicely in Dallas. He has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the Stars’ last six games, and was one of the best players on the ice during Thursday’s win over the Predators:

• Every point matters right now for the Stars, who are battling the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the West. The Stars are 8-0-2 over their last 10, but the Jets have so far held onto the No. 1 spot by going 7-3-0 over the stretch. Dallas is currently four points back of the Jets with one game in hand.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines (from Friday’s practice)

FORWARDS

Rutger McGroarty – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Rickard Rakell – Evgeni Malkin – Ville Koivunen

Connor Dewar – Kevin Hayes – Philip Tomasino

Danton Heinen – Blake Lizotte – Joona Koppanen

DEFENSEMEN

Matt Grzelcyk / Kris Letang

Conor Timmins / Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves / Ryan Shea

Goalies: Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic

Potential Scratches: Vladislav Kolyachonok, Tommy Novak (lower body), Evgeni Malkin (day-to-day upper body injury), Boko Imama (bicep surgery, out for season), Joona Koppanen

Injured Reserve: P.O. Joseph (upper body)

• Evgeni Malkin, who joined the Penguins in line rushes while wearing a regular jersey on Friday, will be a game-time decision tonight (h/t Josh Getzoff.) Getting him back would give the Pens their first look at pairing McGroarty/Crosby ahead of Malkin/Koivunen.

• Sidney Crosby has extended his point streak to 11 games (eight goals, eight assists over the stretch.) That’s the longest point streak by any player aged 37 or old since the Detroit Red Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom recorded an 11-game point streak in 2011, per Penguins PR.