Dallas Stars vs. Calgary Flames: NHL Live Ticker and Updates

The Dallas Stars hosted the Calgary Flames on April 7, 2026, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The matchup featured two teams with contrasting records as they navigated the final stretch of the NHL season.

The Dallas Stars entered the game with a record of 45-20-12. The team had established itself as a defensive powerhouse, ranking second in the league by allowing 2.69 goals per game. However, Dallas was coming off a 2-0 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche on April 4, 2026.

The Calgary Flames arrived in Texas with a record of 32-36-8. Calgary’s offense was ranked 31st in the league, averaging 2.57 goals per game. Despite their overall record, the Flames entered the contest with momentum following a 5-3 road victory against the Anaheim Ducks on April 4, 2026.

Game Details and Rosters

The game began at 8:00 p.m. ET and was broadcast on ESPN+. The officiating crew consisted of referees TJ Luxmore and Beau Halkidis, with linesmen Travis Gawryletz and Travis Toomey.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger started the game, while Devin Cooley started for the Calgary Flames. Early action in the first period saw several attempts by Calgary, including a tip-in by Joel Farabee and a snap shot by Adam Klapka, both of which were saved by Oettinger.

Both teams faced significant roster challenges due to injuries. The Calgary Flames were without Joel Hanley, Samuel Honzek, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Cullen Potter, all of whom had estimated return dates of September 15.

The Dallas Stars were missing several key players, including Nathan Bastian, Radek Faksa, Sam Steel, Michael Bunting, and Roope Hintz. Return dates for these players ranged from April 9 to May 4, 2026.

Betting Trends and Probabilities

Prior to the game, betting markets heavily favored the Dallas Stars. According to BetMGM Sportsbook data updated on April 7, 2026, the Stars were listed as the favorite with odds of -251, implying a 71.5% chance of winning. The Flames were the underdogs at +203, representing a 33.0% implied probability of victory.

Statistical trends indicated that the Flames struggled as underdogs, having lost both times this season when their moneyline odds were +203 or higher. Conversely, the Stars had won twice in three games when their moneyline odds were lower than -251.

Historical Context

This meeting followed a previous encounter between the two teams on November 22, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta. In that contest, the Flames defeated the Stars 3-2 via a shootout. Nazem Kadri scored the deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout to secure the win for Calgary.

The November 22 game was marked by a physical confrontation when Dallas right wing Mikko Rantanen was ejected in the final minute of the second period for a boarding major and game misconduct after checking Calgary’s Matt Coronato into the boards. This incident led to a fight between Rantanen and Jonathan Huberdeau.

At the time of that November meeting, Calgary was struggling near the bottom of the league with a 7-13-3 record, while Dallas held a record of 13-5-4.