Stars lineup tonight: Dallas’ projected lineup for Game 1 against Colorado Avalanche | Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1, April 19, 2025

By Evan Bell

Modified Apr 19, 2025 12:30 GMT

NHL: Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators - Source: Imagn — Looking at the Dallas Stars projected lines for tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche (Image credit: Imagn)

Tonight, the Dallas Stars will collide with the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. After an impressive regular season for the Stars, which saw them finish in second place in the Central Division with a record of 50-26-6, the team is eager to pick up a big win in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Of course, heading into the playoffs, the team knows that they'll have to build some momentum after a rough end to the regular season that saw them go 3-5-2 over their last 10 games, as they lost seven straight.

Given that the team ended the regular season on a losing streak, they're heading into Game 1 as slight underdogs despite finishing the year with a better record than the Avalanche.

Dallas Stars projected lines

Note: Lines subject to change

Forwards

Mikael Granlung - Roope Hintz - Evgenii Dadonov
Mason Marchment - Matt Duchene - Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen
Oskar Back - Sam Steel - Mavrik Bourque

Defense

Esa Lindell - Cody Ceci
Thomas Harley - Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bichsel - Alex Petrovic

Goalies

Jake Oettinger
Casey Desmith

Powerplay

Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley
Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Mason Marchment, Esa Lindell, Mikael Granlund

Penalty Kill

Sam Steel, Oskar Back, Esa Lindell, Cody Ceci
Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley, Ilya Lyubushkin

Previous Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche regular season games ahead of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Although the Dallas Stars finished the 2024-25 regular season with a better record than the Colorado Avalanche, the team is heading into their first-round series as the betting underdog.

One reason for that, in addition to Dallas' seven-game skid to end the season, could be the head-to-head record of these two teams this season.

Throughout their three regular-season meetings this year, the Stars posted a 1-2 record against the Avalanche.

In their first regular-season meeting in late November, the Stars were able to pick up a 5-3 win at home. However, Colorado was then able to bounce back by winning the next two games at home.

With Dallas looking to win their first Stanley Cup since the 1998-99 season, the stakes couldn't be higher as we prepare to kick off this year's Stanley Cup race.

About the author

Evan Bell is a journalist specializing in the NBA and NHL at Sportskeeda, whose love for the game stems from a childhood spent watching the Chicago Bulls. He has been there through their highs and lows, from the Jordan era to the exciting Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah years.

Evan finds the 82-game season and the intensity of playoff basketball exhilarating, and he also revels in the offseason drama. Phil Jackson stands out as his favorite coach, whom he admires for his composed leadership and success in managing dynamic personalities like Dennis Rodman.

To deliver top-quality content, Evan fact-checks information while diligently keeping up with the action year-round.

When he's not writing, Evan follows tennis and Greek football, and also plays basketball and tennis.

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Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann