<p>An important veteran player is out of action on Thursday night.</p>



<p>When speaking to the media, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/dallas-stars/line-combinations">Dallas Stars</a> head coach Glen Gulutzan revealed that forward Matt Duchene will not be in the lineup when the team takes on the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a> due to an upper-body injury.</p>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">❌ Matt Duchene (upper-body) will be out vs. Vancouver on Thursday.<a href="https://t.co/ufxqcwOi5Z">https://t.co/ufxqcwOi5Z</a></p>— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DFOFantasy/status/1978855856595734982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>Duchene was seen participating in the morning skate on Thursday. Gulutzan noted that it was a day-of decision to keep Duchene out of action, but the team deemed that it was wise to keep him out for another game.</p>



<p>Duchene suffered the injury in the Stars’ matchup with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/minnesota-wild/line-combinations">Minnesota Wild</a> on Tuesday. When skating the puck through the neutral zone, he was laid out by a hard hit from Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton, who caught the 34-year-old in the head. Duchene was able to skate off under his own power, but didn’t return to the game.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="154"></div>



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jacob Middleton BLOWS UP Matt Duchene 😵💥 <a href="https://t.co/GaZJjzvJDG">pic.twitter.com/GaZJjzvJDG</a></p>— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1978307041358651664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>



<p>The longtime center potted his first goal of the season in the game. He logged 9:45 of ice time across 13 shifts, putting two shots on goal as well. Dallas went on to win the game, 5-2.</p>



<p>Through three games this season, Duchene has registered two points, having notched an assist in a 5-4 win over the <a href="https://jetsnation.ca/">Winnipeg Jets</a> last Thursday. He has a plus/minus of +2 while averaging 13:59 of ice time.</p>



<p>Duchene entered the 2025-26 season fresh off signing a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/dallas-stars-sign-matt-duchene-four-year-contract-extension">four-year contract extension</a>. The deal carries an AAV of $4.5 million through the 2028-29 season.</p>



<p>In 1,141 NHL regular-season games, Duchene has scored 372 goals and 521 assists for 893 points, with another 37 points coming in 69 playoff contests.</p>



<p>The Stars (3-0-0) will hit the road after Thursday’s game, taking on the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/st-louis-blues/line-combinations">St. Louis Blues</a> on Saturday.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="148"></div>
