Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup for November 13, 2025

The Dallas Stars arrive at the Bell Centre to face the Montreal Canadiens on November 13, 2025, with both teams sitting among the better-performing clubs in the early part of the season. Dallas enters this matchup with a 10-4-3 record, riding the momentum of a three-game winning streak that includes a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators. Meanwhile, Montreal sits at 10-4-2 but has struggled recently, dropping three of their last four games, most recently suffering a 5-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Kings.

This Thursday night showdown at 7:00 p.m. ET features two teams with high-octane power plays and emerging stars looking to make their mark. The Stars will be tested without key contributors due to injury, while the Canadiens aim to dress the same lineup for the ninth consecutive game, seeking consistency as they look to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup for November 13 2025: Stars’ forward lines

The Dallas Stars will roll out a forward corps that blends veteran leadership with emerging talent, though they’ll be significantly shorthanded. The top line features Sam Steel centering Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen, a combination that puts scoring punch at the forefront. Rantanen leads the Stars with 23 points through 17 games, showcasing the kind of offensive production Dallas expected when they acquired him. Johnston, meanwhile, has contributed 20 points and continues to establish himself as one of the league’s most promising young centers.

The second line brings together Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Tyler Seguin—a trio that represents the Stars’ established offensive core. Robertson has been a consistent threat on the wing, while Hintz provides two-way excellence down the middle. Seguin, despite being in the latter stages of his career, continues to contribute meaningfully and provides veteran presence that the lineup desperately needs with Jamie Benn sidelined.

Dallas’s third line features Oskar Back, Justin Hryckowian, and Maverick Bourque, a development-focused group that will need to provide energy and responsible play. The fourth line combines Colin Blackwell, Radek Faksa, and Nathan Bastian, offering defensive reliability and penalty-killing expertise. Faksa, in particular, remains one of the league’s most underrated defensive forwards.

The absence of Jamie Benn looms large over this lineup. The Stars captain has yet to make his season debut after suffering a collapsed lung, though coach Glen Gulutzan expressed optimism that Benn could return within the next week. “He’s had a couple of good skates, yesterday was a really hard skate for him and he got through it,” Gulutzan said. “All signs seem to be he is heading in the right direction.” Additionally, Matt Duchene remains out with an upper-body injury, and Adam Erne is dealing with an undisclosed issue, forcing Dallas to dig deeper into their depth chart.

Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup for November 13 2025: Stars’ defensive pairings and goaltending

The Stars’ blue line remains their greatest strength, anchored by the elite pairing of Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen. Heiskanen continues to be one of the NHL’s premier two-way defensemen, quarterbacking the power play while providing shutdown defense at even strength. Lindell complements him perfectly with steady, reliable play that often goes underappreciated but proves essential to Dallas’s success.

Thomas Harley and Ilya Lyubushkin form the second pairing, bringing a mix of offensive instincts and physical presence. Harley did not participate in the morning skate Thursday, raising brief concerns, but is expected to play against Montreal. His absence would create a significant hole in Dallas’s ability to transition the puck and contribute offensively from the back end. Lyubushkin provides the sandpaper and defensive reliability that allows Harley more freedom to join the rush.

The third pairing features Lian Bichsel alongside Alexander Petrovic, a combination focused on defensive stability and physicality. Bichsel, one of Dallas’s top prospects, continues his NHL development, while Petrovic brings veteran experience. Kyle Capobianco will be a healthy scratch, and Nils Lundkvist remains out with a lower-body injury, limiting the Stars’ defensive depth.

In goal, Jake Oettinger gets the nod for Dallas. The 26-year-old netminder has established himself as one of the league’s premier goaltenders, providing the kind of elite goaltending that championship contenders require. Casey DeSmith serves as the backup, offering reliable insurance should Oettinger need rest. Given Dallas’s recent success, Oettinger will look to continue his strong play and help extend the winning streak to four games.

Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup for November 13 2025: Canadiens’ forward combinations

The Montreal Canadiens will deploy a forward group that has remained unchanged for nine consecutive games, with coach Martin St. Louis finding a chemistry he’s reluctant to disrupt. The top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky represents Montreal’s present and future. Suzuki leads the team with 20 points, serving as the emotional and statistical leader. Caufield has added 18 points and continues to be one of the league’s most dangerous pure shooters, while Slafkovsky’s development into a power forward adds a physical dimension to this skilled trio.

The second line features Alex Newhook between Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov, a combination that puts speed and skill on display. Demidov, one of the most highly-touted prospects in hockey, continues to adapt to the NHL game and showcase the elite vision and playmaking ability that made him a top draft pick. This line provides Montreal with secondary scoring that can exploit matchups when opposing teams focus on neutralizing the top unit.

Zach Bolduc centers Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher on the third line, mixing Dach’s playmaking with Gallagher’s net-front presence and Bolduc’s two-way reliability. Gallagher remains the heart and soul of the Canadiens, providing leadership and never backing down despite his relatively small stature. The fourth line of Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, and Joe Veleno rounds out the forward group, offering speed, penalty-killing ability, and defensive responsibility.

The Canadiens will be without Patrik Laine, who remains out for 3-4 months with a lower-body injury. His absence removes a significant scoring threat from Montreal’s lineup, but it has also created opportunities for younger players like Demidov to earn increased responsibilities. Similar to how the Ottawa Senators vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup featured emerging talents stepping into larger roles earlier this season, the Canadiens continue to balance development with competitive expectations.

Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup for November 13 2025: Canadiens’ defensive structure and netminding

Montreal’s defensive corps features an intriguing blend of established veterans and developing prospects. The top pairing of Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson provides the Canadiens with two mobile, offensively-capable defensemen who can drive play from the back end. Matheson has been particularly effective this season, logging heavy minutes and contributing at both ends of the ice. Dobson brings youth, skating ability, and a powerful shot from the point.

The second pairing consists of Jayden Struble and Lane Hutson, putting two of Montreal’s most promising young defensemen together. Hutson, despite his smaller stature, possesses elite hockey IQ and puck-moving ability that few defenders can match. His transition game has been crucial to Montreal’s ability to generate offense, though his defensive zone play remains a work in progress. Struble provides a more defensive-minded complement, using his size and reach effectively.

Arber Xhekaj and Alexandre Carrier form the third pairing, combining Xhekaj’s physicality and intimidation factor with Carrier’s steady, reliable defensive play. Xhekaj has become a fan favorite at the Bell Centre for his willingness to stand up for teammates and provide a physical presence that the Canadiens have often lacked. The absence of Kaiden Guhle, who remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, has forced Montreal to rely more heavily on this depth pairing.

Between the pipes, Jakub Dobes is projected to start for the Canadiens. The young goaltender has shown promise in limited action, though facing a Stars team with Dallas’s offensive firepower will present a significant challenge. Sam Montembeault, who has been Montreal’s most consistent netminder this season, will serve as the backup. The Canadiens’ recent defensive struggles, particularly evident in their 5-1 loss to Los Angeles, will require a bounce-back performance from whichever goaltender starts.

Special teams battle and key matchups in Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup November 13 2025

This matchup features two of the NHL’s most dangerous power plays, setting up a potential special teams shootout. According to NHL.com’s game preview, Dallas boasts the league’s second-ranked power play at 32.8 percent, while Montreal sits fifth at 26.1 percent. Both teams have weaponized their man-advantage units with elite shooters and creative playmakers.

Dallas’s power play operates primarily through Heiskanen at the point, with Johnston serving as the net-front presence and Rantanen providing his lethal one-timer from the circle. The unit’s ability to maintain possession and work the puck until finding high-danger opportunities has made them nearly unstoppable. Montreal will need to be disciplined to avoid giving the Stars too many opportunities with the extra attacker.

The Canadiens’ power play features Caufield as the primary shooting threat, with Hutson quarterbacking from the blue line and Suzuki operating as the playmaking hub. Caufield’s release is among the quickest in the NHL, and giving him time and space in the offensive zone typically results in quality scoring chances. Slafkovsky’s net-front presence adds a dimension of screens and deflections that makes life difficult for opposing goaltenders.

At even strength, the matchup between Dallas’s Heiskanen-Lindell pairing and Montreal’s top line will be fascinating to watch. The Stars’ top defensive duo will likely draw the assignment of containing Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky, a task easier said than done given the trio’s chemistry and skill level. Conversely, Montreal’s Matheson and Dobson will need to slow down the Robertson-Hintz-Seguin line while also trying to create offense in transition.

The faceoff circle could prove crucial, particularly in defensive zone draws where both teams will look to establish possession and momentum. Johnston and Hintz give Dallas strong center depth, while Suzuki and Evans provide Montreal with reliable options in key situations. Penalty killing will also be tested frequently given both teams’ power play prowess, making special teams efficiency potentially decisive.

What the Dallas Stars vs Montreal Canadiens projected lineup November 13 2025 tells us about both teams’ trajectories

The lineup construction for both teams reveals significant information about their respective seasons and philosophies. Dallas’s ability to maintain a 10-4-3 record despite missing Benn, Duchene, and Erne demonstrates organizational depth and resilience. The Stars have managed to weather these absences by relying on their elite goaltending, strong defensive play, and timely contributions from throughout the lineup. Their three-game winning streak suggests they’ve found a formula that works even without key veterans.

Montreal’s decision to dress the same 18 skaters for the ninth consecutive game reflects a coach finding combinations that work and showing faith in his players. St. Louis has created stability within a young lineup, allowing chemistry to develop rather than constantly shuffling pieces. This consistency has helped Montreal achieve their 10-4-2 record, though the recent stumble with three losses in four games raises questions about whether adjustments might be necessary.

The injury situations tell different stories for each team. Dallas’s injuries to veteran forwards have forced younger players into larger roles, potentially accelerating development timelines. Montreal’s loss of Laine has similarly created opportunities for prospects like Demidov, though it also removes a proven scorer from the lineup. Both teams have adapted reasonably well to their injury circumstances, though Dallas has been more successful recently.

For the Canadiens, much like in the Flyers vs Canadiens projected lineup earlier this month, the emphasis remains on developing young talent while remaining competitive. The presence of Demidov, Hutson, and Slafkovsky in key roles demonstrates Montreal’s commitment to building through youth, even if it occasionally leads to inconsistency. This approach contrasts with Dallas’s more win-now mentality, though the Stars have also integrated young players like Johnston successfully.

As both teams navigate this Thursday night matchup at the Bell Centre, the projected lineups suggest an evenly-matched contest between two clubs exceeding early-season expectations. Dallas will look to extend their winning streak to four games while managing their injury concerns, and Montreal will seek to bounce back from recent struggles in front of their home fans. The clash between two elite power plays, combined with emerging stars and established veterans, sets the stage for compelling hockey that could have implications for both teams’ confidence moving forward into the heart of the season.