Petrovic draws – Dallas makes key lineup changes for Game 6 against Minnesota after going down 3-2 in the series, with Tyler Myers expected to sit and Alexander Petrovic and Michael Bunting set to return. Hyry is out with a lower-body injury.
Dallas enters Game 6 with its season hanging in the balance, and Misryoum has the latest on the lineup shift that could swing the next 60 minutes.
The Dallas Stars trail the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in their first-round series. with the Colorado Avalanche waiting for whoever wins the tie.. In the morning skate. Dallas signaled a change on defense: Tyler Myers is expected to be scratched. allowing Alexander Petrovic to take his spot.. It’s a move rooted in playoff execution. and Dallas is clearly looking for a steadier look as pressure ramps up.
Myers, acquired mid-season from the Vancouver Canucks, has found it difficult to impact games since the postseason started.. Across five playoff appearances, he has registered a minus-five rating and zero points.. That doesn’t tell the entire story of his season. but it does reflect how his regular-season production didn’t translate cleanly once the matchup turned into a tight. high-intensity chess match.
Misryoum also notes that Dallas isn’t only changing its defensive posture.. Michael Bunting—another mid-season acquisition. this time from the Nashville Predators—draws into the lineup as well. despite not yet appearing in these playoffs.. In the regular season with Dallas. Bunting contributed two goals and eight assists in 54 games. a reminder that the Stars have a proven scoring and transition option they haven’t fully tapped in the postseason yet.
There’s a separate story running through Dallas’ forward group, too.. Petrovic’s return gives the Stars a defensive partner with recent playoff experience in Dallas. including 17 appearances last postseason where he posted one goal and one assist.. This time. he has yet to take the ice in the current playoffs—meaning Game 6 is his chance to turn offseason expectations and regular-season value into something more immediate.
One of the biggest practical concerns for the Stars is what happens defensively when they’re playing from behind.. A series down 3-2 means every shift is magnified. and a lineup tweak isn’t just about replacing a player—it’s about changing how the team manages matchups. breaks out of trouble. and protects against momentum swings.. By bringing in Petrovic. Dallas may be aiming for cleaner positioning and more reliable minutes in the kind of situations that decide elimination games.
Bunting’s inclusion adds another layer.. When a team is searching for answers late in a series. it often needs a spark—something that changes how opponents defend and how quickly the power of a line can arrive at dangerous zones.. Even without postseason stats to back it up. Bunting’s regular-season numbers suggest he can contribute to offense through both finishing and playmaking. which becomes crucial when games tighten and scoring chances shrink.
For Minnesota. Dallas’ changes will force a real readjustment as the Wild prepare for different matchups at both ends of the ice.. Minnesota’s coaching staff will have to account for new personnel. likely re-evaluating forecheck patterns. defensive pairings. and the way they try to limit Dallas’ breakout routes.. In a series this close, those micro-adjustments can have major effects by the final minutes.
Unfortunately for Dallas, the Stars also have an injury complication.. Hyry is out with a lower-body injury after leaving Game 5 following a blocked shot.. That matters because it reduces how freely Dallas can balance lines and pairings.. With both lineup changes and an injury. the Stars are effectively asking a few new players to settle into a high-stakes rhythm immediately—exactly the kind of test teams dread. but also the kind that can define a season.
The bottom line is simple: Game 6 isn’t just about whether Dallas can tie the series—it’s about whether it can stabilize both the defensive structure and the offensive threat in the same night.. With Petrovic and Bunting ready to draw in. and Myers expected to sit. Misryoum will be watching closely for whether these moves deliver the fresh energy and sharper execution the Stars need to keep their playoff dream alive.