In a tightly contested game against Nashville on Saturday night, the Dallas Stars forced overtime with less than 15 minutes remaining in regulation by scoring a crucial tying goal. This important goal came from depth forward Nathan Bastian, who capitalized on an open chance in the slot and slipped the puck past Predators goaltender Juuse Saros to register his fourth goal of the season, helping the Stars secure a 3-2 victory.
Coach Glen Gulutzan emphasized the significance of Bastian’s effort after the game, highlighting how such contributions from secondary players are vital during this stretch of the NHL season, especially as the Stars contend with injuries and fatigue.
Impact of Injuries Forces Greater Reliance on Secondary Scorers
The Stars are facing significant challenges with multiple key forwards sidelined. Mikko Rantanen is expected to miss at least two weeks, and possibly more, due to a lower-body injury sustained at the Olympics. Roope Hintz is also struggling, having missed the last two games because of illness, while Radek Faksa is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Furthermore, Tyler Seguin’s torn ACL has been designated as season-ending, a move that opens salary cap space but leaves the team short-handed offensively heading into the NHL trade deadline.
This absence of principal scoring talent places increased pressure on depth forwards to perform, a situation clearly illustrated on Saturday when the Stars effectively deployed two separate fourth lines. One line consisted of Nathan Bastian, Arttu Hyry, and Oskar Bäck, while the other featured Colin Blackwell, Adam Erne, and Justin Hryckowian. These players have been crucial in specialized roles, such as penalty killing and physical play, but will now be expected to add offensive production as well.
Depth Players’ Performances Draw Praise and Set Expectations
Defenseman Esa Lindell expressed approval of how the depth forwards played against Nashville, noting their simple and effective style that culminated in a rewarding result. He remarked,
“I actually really liked the way they played today — just simple, effective hockey. They forechecked it well, and it’s nice that they got rewarded.”
– Esa Lindell, Stars defenseman
Justin Hryckowian, in particular, showcased his combative style by serving five penalty minutes for fighting in back-to-back games, a sign of the grit the Stars hope will maintain team energy. However, the team understands that scoring is critical during the NHL playoff push, and depth players like Bastian will need to contribute more consistently on the scoresheet.
Bastian acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating,
“It’s always maybe a little easier said than done. When you’re missing such key guys like that, and you’re able to still win hockey games, I think it shows positive signs of a good hockey team. Guys like us, maybe we can’t bring the skill, but we can make up for it in other areas — maybe a little more physicality. With a little more ice time, you get a little more confidence, and all of a sudden, you can string together some good games.”
– Nathan Bastian, Stars forward
Team Strategy Adjustments Ahead of Trade Deadline
With the trade deadline approaching, the Stars are positioned with over $7 million in salary cap space, enabling them to pursue reinforcements, particularly for middle-six forward roles. Dallas has been linked to forwards such as Blake Coleman from Calgary, Nazem Kadri, and Evander Kane from Vancouver, all of whom could help alleviate the scoring void created by offseason losses.
The team lost three 20-goal scorers last year—Mason Marchment, Evgenii Dadonov, and Mikael Granlund—and, while there have been periods of offensive success, consistency remains an issue. The burden of goal scoring currently falls heavily on stars Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, who lead the team with 33 and 32 goals, respectively.
Defense Depth Also a Concern as Key Players Manage Heavy Minutes
Beyond forward depth, concerns extend to the defensive corps. Although Dallas has numbers on the blue line, top defensemen Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Thomas Harley have faced heavy minutes, especially after deep Olympic participation where some logged over 30 minutes per night. The recent return of Lian Bichsel provides some relief, but general manager Jim Nill may look to acquire another top-four defenseman before the playoffs intensify, given the reliance on the current core.
However, making a move on defense without parting with valuable draft picks or trading promising players like Bichsel, Mavrik Bourque, or Nils Lundkvist will be challenging, complicating roster adjustments late in the season.
Outlook and Expectations for the Final Stretch of the Season
As the NHL trade deadline draws near, clarity around lineup changes and new arrivals is expected. Coach Glen Gulutzan and the management will have to carefully balance the roster to compensate for the loss of significant scoring talent late in the campaign. Whether through internal players stepping up or by acquiring skilled reinforcements, the team faces mounting pressure to unite and perform cohesively in pursuit of a deep Stanley Cup run.
Gulutzan highlighted the importance of collective effort, saying,
“It helps build team, too, because all guys feel a part of it.”
BASTIAN GETS THE REBOUND 😮💨#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/Y79qV1Vz0R
— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) March 1, 2026
