The Canadiens bring a three-game win streak and a one-point standings edge into a matchup against a stronger-rated Stars team.
Montréal has 16 points to Dallas’s 15 after 12 games, but the Stars hold the No. 6 power ranking while the Canadiens sit 16th. Both teams are 4-1 over their last five: Montréal rides a three-game winning streak, while Dallas is coming off a 5-1 loss after four straight wins. Dallas’s +4.8 shots-per-game differential against Montréal’s -0.1 could create chances for Mikko Rantanen, who leads the Stars with 14 points in 12 games, while Nick Suzuki has 12 points in nine for the Canadiens. The goaltending matchup may decide whether that pressure pays off: Jake Oettinger has a .929 save percentage, and Jacob Fowler is at .942 in nine appearances.