DALLAS — The Dallas Stars spent much of Saturday night doing the hard things right, but generating consistent offense remained elusive in a tightly contested matchup against the Florida Panthers at American Airlines Center.
Dallas’ defensive core once again carried a heavy load. Esa Lindell anchored the blue line with a physical, selfless performance, blocking six shots to bring his season total to a team-leading 76, a figure that ranks among the best in the NHL. Miro Heiskanen logged 24:20 of ice time, extending his streak to 10 straight games with at least 24 minutes as he was relied upon in all situations.
The Stars were sharp when shorthanded, killing off two of three Florida power plays and continuing a dominant run on the penalty kill that has seen Dallas stop 34 of its last 35 opportunities since Nov. 25. Radek Faksa also delivered a strong night in the faceoff circle, winning seven of eight draws to help Dallas control possession in key moments.
Still, the game never opened up offensively for the Stars. The first period was a grind, with both teams combining for just four total shots as Florida’s structure clogged the middle and limited second chances around the net.
“We have to be better on that,” Lindell said of the slow start and limited shots. “But I think overall the first period had some tight checking today. It was two-two after the first, but we can do better.”
Dallas pushed at times but struggled to create sustained five-on-five pressure, often forced to the perimeter by an aggressive Panthers forecheck. The Stars’ inability to break through at even strength ultimately left little margin for error.
Veteran defenseman Alexander Petrovic reached a personal milestone, skating in his 300th NHL game more than a decade after his debut, while the Stars leaned heavily on their defensive identity throughout the night.
For Dallas, the formula remains close. The defensive commitment is there, the penalty kill continues to excel, and the minutes are being shouldered by the right players. The next step is turning those strong defensive habits into cleaner execution and more offense — especially at five-on-five — as the Stars look to regain their scoring rhythm.
