Alex DeBrincat

The Dallas Stars host a Detroit Red Wings squad that's dropping like a stone after back-to-back losses to Tampa and Florida, with key centers Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp sidelined by leg injuries. Dallas chases franchise lore at American Airlines Center, leaning on Jason Robertson's league-leading 78 points while the Wings counter with Alex DeBrincat's 65.

Detroit's captain Dylan Larkin and linemate Andrew Copp both sit with lower-body injuries that coach Todd McLellan pegs at two weeks minimum before reassessment. Larkin tweaked his leg in that ugly fall against the Panthers last Friday, while Copp got tangled up with Tomas Nosek the other night, forcing a full reshuffle up front with DeBrincat, Kane, and Compher now holding the top center spot.

Andrew Copp absorbs a lower-body hit and doesn't return from the Panthers game, testing Detroit's resolve without their reliable two-way center. The Wings scramble with Larkin nursing his own leg woes, forcing Compher and Kasper into expanded roles. This injury hits hard for a line that's been clicking with DeBrincat, and the team braces for Thursday's matchup minus one of their steadiest vets.

Andrew Copp's injury clouds Detroit's lineup as the Red Wings navigate a critical stretch without their unsung anchor on the second line. Coaches have long praised his faceoff reliability and penalty-kill steadiness, the kind of glue that holds lines together amid DeBrincat and Kane's flash. His status raises questions about how Steve Yzerman adjusts the bottom six before the trade deadline buzz intensifies.

The Red Wings roll into New Jersey with a 35-21-7 record, looking to snap a two-game skid against a Devils squad that's won four of their last five and sits at 32-29-2. Detroit's Alex DeBrincat leads the charge with 63 points, but they'll miss Dylan Larkin due to a leg injury, forcing Steve Yzerman to lean on depth scoring in a tight puck line where the Wings give 1.5.

Detroit's DeBrincat lights the lamp on the power play against Sergei Bobrovsky, giving the Wings a spark in their Florida showdown. Red Wings snipers exploit man-advantage edges that coaches obsess over all season. This tally shifts momentum in a game where special teams decide who climbs the Atlantic ladder.