👋 Good morning! - Happy Friday, you made it! The week’s in the books and the weekend is officially here. Do yourself a favor: unplug, recharge, and go have some fun. You’ve earned it. 🎉 - Ali Jawad

The Dallas Stars opened their season with fireworks, chaos, and a little bit of “angry moose” magic.

In a wild 5–4 win over the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night, Dallas flipped the switch on and off like a light, exploding for three goals in just 2:22, only to see their comfortable cushion tested late.

Mikko Rantanen wasted no time reminding everyone he’s a force, setting the tone with a goal and a highlight-reel assist that had Winnipeg chasing shadows.

This wasn’t just about the veterans, though. Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist seized their early-season opportunities, making savvy defensive plays and finishing elite sequences like seasoned pros.

Glen Gulutzan leaned into creativity, loading up top lines and preaching skill, and the result was an offensive display that felt more like a preview of what this group could become than a fluke opening night.

Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck kept things from getting ugly early, but Dallas eventually broke through in style.

And just when it looked like the Stars would cruise, the game descended into penalties, chaos, and some nervy moments down the stretch. The Jets made it close, but Dallas held on, showcasing both their offensive ceiling and their opening-night rust in one 60-minute thrill ride.

If this is what Game 1 looks like, buckle up, the Gulutzan era might be a little wild.

James Houston’s wide-nine pass rush caused havoc against the Jets. Jesse Holley in his KBBU broke down how his explosive edge angles that helped spark Dallas’ defensive pressure. A sneaky scheme wrinkle that could be a game-changer moving forward 👀.

NBA GMs can’t quite figure out the Mavericks 🤔. In the annual survey, execs pegged Dallas as one of the league’s toughest teams to predict this season.

The DLLS Mavs crew breaks down why, and gets some therapy from resident tortured fan Jason Gallagher 😅.

Rangers ace Nathan Eovaldi underwent sports hernia surgery this week.

The righty, who posted a 1.73 ERA in 2025, is expected to be ready for spring training as he and Jacob deGrom aim to headline Texas’ 2026 rotation 🔥.

Despite injuries, Eovaldi anchored a staff that led MLB in ERA for the first time in franchise history.

Make it happen.

Be sure to subscribe to our shows wherever you listen to your podcasts. Traffic can be the worst, and one of the best ways I get through it is by listening to the audio versions of our DLLS shows. You should, too!

Ali Jawad
Dallas Cowboys ​Content Creator/Newsletter Writer
[email protected]