Dallas Stars vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 10, 2026
The Dallas Stars will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Saturday night for an interconference matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM, with coverage on ESPN+. Dallas enters the weekend looking to continue its early-season success against a Pittsburgh team that has enough offensive talent to make things difficult. The Stars have established themselves as one of the more complete teams in the Western Conference and will look to use their depth to pick up another victory. Pittsburgh returns home looking to challenge Dallas and continue building momentum in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins will need a strong performance on both ends of the ice to keep pace with a talented Stars team. This preview was completed prior to the opening lines being released. For all of our NHL action, see our NHL Picks.
Dallas goes for 3 in a row
Dallas has relied heavily on its defensive play early in the regular season, allowing just 1.5 goals on 22.3 shots per game. The Stars have been less productive offensively, averaging 2.5 goals on 24.8 shots per contest, but have started to find their rhythm following a slow start. Dallas enters the weekend with a 2-2 record after winning two consecutive games following back-to-back losses to open the season. The Stars have struggled on the power play, converting just 10% of their opportunities, but have been solid defensively with an 83.3% penalty-kill rate. Mikko Rantanen has provided important offensive production, while Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Wyatt Johnston continue to contribute to the Dallas attack.
Dallas dominated the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night, cruising to a 4-0 victory on the road. Mikko Rantanen led the Stars with one goal and three assists, while Jason Robertson, Sam Steel, and Roope Hintz each scored one goal. Wyatt Johnston was outstanding as a facilitator, contributing three assists as Dallas took control of the game. Jake Oettinger continued his strong play in net, stopping all 26 shots he faced for his second consecutive shutout. Dallas also defeated San Jose 5-0 in its previous outing, giving the Stars nine unanswered goals over their last two games while allowing none. The victory against Buffalo moved Dallas back to .500 and gave the team momentum heading into the weekend.
Pittsburgh tries to end their issues at home
Pittsburgh has been one of the more productive offensive teams early in the regular season, averaging 4.5 goals on 32.3 shots per game. The Penguins have struggled defensively at times, allowing 3.25 goals on 26.5 shots per contest. Pittsburgh enters the weekend with a 2-2 record after winning its first two games before suffering consecutive losses. The Penguins have been effective on special teams, converting 30.8% of their power-play opportunities while posting a 90% penalty-kill rate. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to play important roles offensively, while Tommy Novak has contributed timely scoring. Bryan Rust has also returned to the lineup, giving Pittsburgh another experienced offensive weapon.
Pittsburgh suffered its second consecutive defeat Wednesday night, falling 5-3 against the Washington Capitals. Bryan Rust scored in his season debut, while Tommy Novak and Nick Robertson added one goal each for the Penguins. Pittsburgh struggled defensively in the opening half of the game, allowing Washington to build a 4-1 advantage before attempting to mount a comeback. The Penguins cut the deficit to one goal but were unable to complete the rally. Arturs Silovs finished with 22 saves as Washington took advantage of several Pittsburgh mistakes. The loss followed another defeat against Winnipeg and left the Penguins searching for a stronger defensive performance heading into their next matchup.
Dallas Stars vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction
Pick: Dallas Stars
Dallas has the offensive depth and defensive talent to get past Pittsburgh Saturday night. The Penguins have enough experienced players to make things difficult, especially when they are able to establish their offensive attack. Dallas will need to limit Pittsburgh's opportunities and avoid allowing the Penguins to create too many chances on the power play. The Stars have several players capable of finding the back of the net and should be able to put pressure on the Pittsburgh defense throughout the game. The Penguins will benefit from playing at home, but Dallas has the stronger overall roster and should be able to control important stretches of the matchup. Look for the Stars to make enough plays late to secure the road victory.
Pick: Over
Dallas and Pittsburgh should have plenty of opportunities to produce goals Saturday night when the two teams meet at PPG Paints Arena. The Stars have one of the deeper offensive groups in the NHL and should be able to create scoring chances against Pittsburgh. The Penguins have enough experienced offensive talent to answer and could find success if Dallas gives away opportunities in transition. Both teams have players capable of taking advantage of power-play chances, which could play an important role in the overall scoring. Dallas should be able to generate consistent offensive pressure, while Pittsburgh will need to keep pace to remain competitive. Look for both teams to contribute offensively in a game that features several goals.