You’re looking at the calendar and realized the NHL season is hitting that weird, mid-winter grind. If you've been tracking the Dallas Stars hockey schedule, you already know January has been a brutal gauntlet. Honestly, it’s basically been one long suitcase-living nightmare for the roster.
The Stars just wrapped up a six-game road trip that stretched from Carolina all the way to Utah. They’ve been playing a lot of "heavy" hockey lately. But if you think the schedule gets easier just because they're back at the American Airlines Center (AAC) for a bit, you might want to look closer at the travel miles.
Why the Dallas Stars Hockey Schedule is a Logistic Nightmare
Geographically, Dallas is on an island. While teams in the Northeast can take a bus between cities, the Stars are regularly clocking over 50,000 miles a season. This year is no different. They lead the league in miles traveled for the 2025-26 campaign.
That kind of wear and tear shows up in the third period of back-to-back games. We saw it on January 10th against the Sharks—a game where they held a 4-2 lead and somehow let it slip into an overtime loss. That wasn’t just a lack of focus. It was heavy legs.
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Key Dates You Shouldn't Miss
The back half of the season is where things get interesting, especially with the Olympic break looming. Here’s what the immediate future looks like:
- January 18: Kids Day at the AAC against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Puck drop is early at 1:00 PM.
- January 20: Texas Rangers Night versus the Boston Bruins. This is a big one for local crossover fans.
- January 23: A massive home matchup against the St. Louis Blues.
- February 6–24: The NHL takes a hard pause for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
The Olympic break is a double-edged sword. On one hand, stars like Miro Heiskanen and Roope Hintz (assuming health) will be overseas exerting themselves. On the other hand, the rest of the squad gets two weeks to heal the nagging "lower-body injuries" that everyone seems to have by February.
The Brutal Stretch in March
If you’re planning to buy tickets, March is your month. After the Olympics, the Dallas Stars hockey schedule turns into a home-heavy marathon. They have a six-game homestand from March 6th to March 16th.
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It’s a bizarre mix of opponents. You’ve got the Colorado Avalanche coming in on March 6th, which will basically be a playoff preview. Then you’ve got the Utah Mammoth on March 16th for First Responders Night.
Basically, the Stars need to bank points here. Because once April hits, the schedule tightens up with high-stakes divisional games against Winnipeg and Minnesota that will decide who gets home-ice advantage in the first round.
Watching the Games: The Victory+ Factor
Can we talk about how different it is to actually watch the games this year? Most fans are still getting used to the "Victory+" era. If you’re in-market, the majority of the games are free on the app. It's a huge shift from the old cable days.
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However, the national TV schedule still snags the big ones. For example, that April 4th game against Colorado is on ABC. You won't find that one on your local stream.
The Current State of the Roster
It’s hard to talk about the schedule without mentioning who is actually on the ice. Right now, the injury bug is nibbling. Tyler Seguin is currently on IR, and Miro Heiskanen has been in and out of the lineup with various knocks.
This has forced the young guns to step up. Wyatt Johnston is basically playing like a veteran at this point, leading the charge on that top line with Mikko Rantanen. Yes, seeing Rantanen in a Stars sweater still feels a little surreal, but he’s been the offensive engine they needed.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to attend a game or just follow the stretch run, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Goalie Rotation: Jake Oettinger is the clear #1, but Scott Wedgewood has been taking more starts lately to keep "Otter" fresh for April. Don't be surprised if Wedgewood gets the nod on the second night of back-to-backs.
- Check the Start Times: The Stars are notorious for 7:30 PM or 8:30 PM starts. The January 18th game is a rare 1:00 PM matinee, so don't show up late.
- Standings Pressure: As of mid-January, the Stars are neck-and-neck with Colorado and Winnipeg for the Central Division lead. Every "loser point" in overtime matters right now.
- Promotional Giveaways: If you want that Mikko Rantanen bobblehead or the Pickleball paddle from earlier in the season, you usually have to be through the doors at AAC at least 60 minutes before puck drop.
The road to the 2026 playoffs is going to be narrow. With the travel schedule the Stars have, depth isn't just a luxury—it's the only way they survive the final 30 games. Keep an eye on the defensive pairings as they try to manage Miro’s minutes heading into the Olympic break.