Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues 22 September 2026 Prediction

The preseason opens with two teams that usually enter the regular season with different expectations. Dallas is traditionally one of the Central Division’s top teams, while St. Louis has frequently missed the playoffs in recent years. This will be their final preseason test before the Stars host the Blues again in the regular-season opener.

Dallas Needs to Make Adjustments

Last season ended earlier than expected for Dallas. The Stars finished second in the Central Division but lost to Minnesota 4-2 in their first-round playoff series. The roster did not undergo any major changes during the offseason, as the front office continues to back its manager.

The Stars traded Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville. The Russian defenseman recorded nine points, including one goal and eight assists, in 50 games last season and posted a plus-1 rating. Dallas did not have a first-round pick in the draft. With the 59th overall selection, the club took Czech forward Jakub Vanecek, who produced 35 points, including 14 goals and 25 assists, in 59 WHL games for Tri-City.

St. Louis Aims to Return to the Playoffs

The past two seasons followed a similar pattern for St. Louis. The Blues struggled early in the regular season before improving after the winter break and making a late playoff push. They fell short in 2026, finishing fifth in the Central Division and four points outside a wild-card spot.

During the offseason, the Blues completed a trade with Washington. Connor McMichael arrived after recording 46 points, including 14 goals and 32 assists, in 78 games, while Jordan Kyrou moved in the opposite direction with similar numbers. Mason McTavish is another notable addition from Anaheim. The former captain of Canada’s gold medal-winning junior team had 41 points, including 17 goals and 24 assists, last season.

Dallas Has the Edge Against St. Louis

Dallas and St. Louis have already met once this preseason. Glen Gulutzan’s team won 2-1 on the road behind goals from Jack Becker and Arttu Hyry. The Blues also had difficulty against the Stars during the previous regular season, losing three of four meetings. Their only win was a 3-1 home victory.

Dallas vs St. Louis Prediction: Dallas to Win

Main prediction: Dallas has been a difficult matchup for St. Louis. The Stars have won the past four head-to-head meetings, including their preseason matchup. Dallas also has home-ice advantage. The preferred pick is Dallas to win.

Totals prediction: The preseason is still in its early stages, so neither team is likely to play at full pace. Both sides should focus on defensive structure and limiting mistakes in their own zone. Their September meeting produced only three goals. The pick is under 5.5 goals.