The Stars are riding a three-game winning streak and have been stingy offensively in the process, outscoring their opposition 7-4. Oettinger is coming off his best performance of the season, saving all 24 shots he faced for his first shutout in a 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals. The 26-year-old Oettinger has a 2.61 GAA and .909 SV% in eight games this season (5-2-1). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as +129 road underdogs against a Lightning team also on a three-game winning streak.

Tuomaala was drafted 46th-overall by the Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He has yet to play an NHL game, but has been effective at the AHL level. He scored 32 points (11G / 21A) in 46 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) last season, and will provide a boost for a Texas Stars (AHL) team that has struggled offensively.

Set to be an RFA at the end of the season, GM Jim Nill ensured that Harley will be a Dallas Star for the foreseeable future after signing him to a massive eight-year contract worth nearly $85 million ($10.587 AAV). Harley caught national attention after being a late addition to Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off. The 24-year-old Harley was drafted 18th overall by the Stars in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and is coming into his own in his third full season at the NHL level. He has eight points (1G / 7A) in 10 games so far this season.

Hintz has not played since receiving an open-ice hit from Carolina's Taylor Hall on October 25th, missing two straight games. He remains day-to-day, but will not play in the team's upcoming two-game road trip. The 28-year-old Hintz has eight points (1G / 7A) in eight games this season.

Back has been battling an upper-body injury since training camp and finally made his season debut on Sunday, but returned to the sidelines on Tuesday after reaggravating the injury. The 25-year-old Back played 8:28 time-on-ice and scored a goal. He could return to the lineup on the Stars' upcoming two-game road trip.

Duchene has only played one of the previous six games for the Stars, tending to an upper-body injury, but could return to the lineup for the upcoming two-game road trip. The 34-year-old Duchene signed a four-year contract extension with the Stars in the offseason and has two points (1G / 1A) through four games in 2025-26.

Back has been battling an upper-body injury since training camp and finally made his season debut on Sunday, but will return to the sidelines after reaggravating the injury. The 25-year-old Back played 8:28 time-on-ice and scored a goal. Kyle Capobianco will draw into the Stars' lineup as the team goes with an 11-7 formation.

The Stars will roster seven defenseman on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Capobianco to draw into the lineup for his season debut. The 28-year-old defenseman has four points (1G / 3A) in five games this season with the Texas Stars (AHL).

After losing four straight (0-3-1-), the Stars have won consecutive games, improving their record to 5-3-1 on the season. The team will return to Oettinger between the pipes on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, hoping he can elevate his game after a pedestrian start to the season, posting a 2.98 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games (4-2-1). The Stars enter Tuesday's contest as -126 home favorites against a Capitals team leading the league defensively with only 21 goals allowed (2.33 GA / GP).