Wyatt Johnston's Ironman Streak Ends With an Illness, and the Stars Need Their Center Back by Saturday

Wyatt Johnston's consecutive-games streak is over. The Dallas Stars center was a late scratch with an illness for Tuesday's 3-2 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche, did not travel to Denver, and was ruled out for Wednesday's rematch as well. Johnston had played in 333 consecutive regular-season games since his NHL debut on Oct. 13, 2022, and the Associated Press put the streak at 395 games when the playoffs are included.

The good news for Dallas and for fantasy managers is that the absence appears short. An injury report listed Johnston as out with an illness and expected back Saturday, Oct. 17. Nothing in the reporting points to anything beyond a standard illness.

Why Johnston's absence hits Dallas hard

The timing is rough. The Stars are already without Matt Duchene, who underwent core muscle surgery and is out until mid-January. Losing Johnston on top of that strips two of the team's top-six centers out of the lineup at once and forces line combinations into unfamiliar territory.

Johnston has been the Stars' most durable offensive player since he arrived. He has grown from a teenage rookie into one of the league's most reliable two-way centers. When he is out, Dallas loses an even-strength scoring threat and a regular contributor on the power play.

The home-and-home with Colorado

The Stars and Avalanche opened a home-and-home on Tuesday in Dallas, and Colorado won 3-2 behind two goals from Martin Necas, two assists from Nathan MacKinnon and 24 saves from Mackenzie Blackwood. Cale Makar missed that game to be with his wife for the birth of twins, then returned Wednesday in Denver.

The Avalanche's own recap of Wednesday's game said Colorado lost in a shootout after two disallowed goals in the first period, which would give Dallas a split of the two games even without Johnston. The rivalry was on full display, with MacKinnon and Roope Hintz dropping the gloves in the series.

Fantasy fallout

Johnston managers: Do not drop or trade him. An illness with an expected return date is a short-term absence. If your league has daily lineup changes, slot in a replacement for any games he misses and plan to have him back for Saturday.

Stars depth forwards: With Johnston and Duchene out, Dallas' bottom-six forwards have been bumped up the lineup, and the most interesting short-term pickup is whichever forward moves into Johnston's power-play spot. That role changes quickly, so check the Stars' morning skate line rushes before any game this week.

Roope Hintz and the top line: Hintz absorbs more of the top-center workload while Johnston is out, which supports his shot and point volume. The Stars' top wingers remain locked-in starts.

Betting angle

Short-term absences like this often get overreacted to in the market. A Stars team without Johnston and Duchene is weaker down the middle, and that matters for faceoffs and for driving play. But the expected Saturday return date means bettors should not carry that adjustment beyond this week.

The bigger issue is the Duchene injury. Dallas' center depth for the next three months is thinner than at any point in recent years, and that is a legitimate reason to temper expectations for the Stars in the early-season standings. For the model's daily view of Stars games, see NHL predictions.

Johnston's streak in context

Ironman streaks are a rare commodity in the modern NHL, and Johnston's started the night he debuted as a teenager. He had not missed a regular-season game since, through the Stars' deep playoff runs and the grind of a full NHL schedule. The fact that it ended on an illness rather than an injury is a testament to how durable he has been.

What's next

Johnston is expected back Saturday, Oct. 17. Watch the Stars' Friday practice for confirmation that he has rejoined the team. Once he returns, he goes straight back to the top six, and his fantasy value resumes as if nothing happened. The longer-term concern for Dallas remains Duchene, and how the Stars cover the second-line center role until January.