​Apr 4, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith (1) faces the Colorado Avalanche attack during the game between the Stars and the Avalanche at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesThe Dallas Stars swept the home-and-home with a 2-1 preseason win against the St. Louis Blues at American Airlines Center on Monday.Stars lines J. Hryckowian – Johnston – RantanenRobertson – Hintz – SeminoffHughes – Schlaine – D. HryckowianMartino – Rickwood – HemmingHarley – LundkvistTaylor – BurroughsAnderson – Minnetian  DeSmithHalversonShoot the puck! Last season, Dallas had trouble shooting the puck. Like, at all. They were often double digits behind the opponent in shot count, and even though that is far from everything in a game, the difference was often apparent in the way the game was played. The Stars have been pretty transparent with their approach to creating more offense this season. They want to maintain the defensive habits this organization has had for years, while adding a bit more speed and creativity up the ice. Shooting the puck will also be a part of that, but don’t expect them to turn into Carolina and abandon their goal of holding onto pucks. Tonight, in preseason game two, we have seen a few examples of quick ups by the defensemen. As Thomas Harley said the other day, quick and controlled breakout passes should theoretically allow the Stars to play with speed while also maintaining possession of the puck. Rather than skating behind the net and waiting for the rest of the guys to change, defensemen pick their heads up and decide whether there is an easy play ahead of them.That has nothing to do with the Stars first goal of the game, though. But it did come because Harley found some open space and shot the puck. This shot looked to be on the ice but then went in over Joel Hofer’s pad, so maybe it hit a skate on the way. This is one of the reasons I think Harley should QB PP1. But hey, what do I know? Picking up where he left off pic.twitter.com/DUAJcMBf28— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) September 22, 2026Outside of the goal, there was another fight. Jack Anderson fought for what I believe is the third time between preseason and the prospect tournament. And he fought Dylan Peterson, who also fought on Saturday in St. Louis. Casey DeSmith was excellent, as Dallas got into a bit too much circling in its own end and not enough stopping on pucks. DeSmith has one of the quickest pad flash saves I have seen in the NHL. He’s great at that when plays break down. KILL!The Stars have made it a nice habit of fighting a million times this preseason. I dig it. Tonight, the second tilt was once again Kyle Burroughs, who was once again pushed into a fight in defense after he committed a penalty. And Burroughs got the better of Dylan Holloway (a scorer, not a fighter), switching to his left hand and throwing a perfect straight down the middle that dropped Holloway. Holloway went to