Sat Mar 01 00:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Stars Return Home After Hectic Month, Face Hot Kings Team

**Dallas, TX** – The Dallas Stars return to the American Airlines Center on Friday, February 28th, for a highly anticipated matchup against the Los Angeles Kings, ending a month of grueling travel and a whirlwind schedule. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM CT.

The Stars’ February featured a chaotic mix of home games, a three-game California road trip, the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in Montreal and Boston, and further games in New Jersey and Columbus. This travel odyssey left players and coaching staff exhausted, with some players only returning home for the first time in nearly four weeks on Wednesday.

“I’m just happy to catch my breath,” said goalie Jake Oettinger, echoing the sentiments of his teammates. The extended time away highlighted the importance of returning to their home routine, which the team hopes will improve their game following a less-than-stellar recent road trip. The team, currently 37-19-2 and ranked third in the NHL, aims to capitalize on a four-game home stand.

Despite the recent struggles on the road, the Stars enter the game with momentum thanks to forward Mavrik Bourque’s six-game point streak. Another point on Friday would extend his streak to seven games, a career first. Bourque’s strong performance – 12 points (6-6—12) since January 1 – mirrors the Kings’ Quinton Byfield, who boasts 11 points (0-11—11) in his last seven games, leading the league in assists for February.

The Kings arrive in Dallas riding a 5-0-2 streak, posing a significant challenge. While they boast the league’s best home record (19-3-3), their road record (12-14-5) suggests a vulnerability the Stars hope to exploit. The teams’ contrasting strengths—Los Angeles’s strong puck possession and Dallas’s potent first-period offense—set the stage for an exciting game. The Stars will look to regain their composure and tighten up their game, particularly after a loss in Columbus, which highlighted some of the team’s recent defensive lapses. The team hopes the extended period of rest will enable the players to return to their usual level of play, especially for recently traded forward Mikael Granlund, who has only had a few days to settle in after a flurry of travel.

The game will also feature Black History Night celebrations and a commemorative poster by Tatyana Alanis. Fans can listen on The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM, or watch the game live. Pre-game festivities on PNC Plaza begin at 5:00 PM.

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