So you're looking for the kickoff or puck drop time for Dallas. Kinda frustrating when you realize the schedule isn't what you expected, right? If you’re checking the clock right now hoping to catch the Dallas game tonight, there’s some news you might not like.
The Dallas Stars actually played a matinee game today, Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Honestly, these Sunday afternoon slots catch a lot of people off guard. Everyone is so used to the 7:00 PM or 8:30 PM starts that the early games just slip through the cracks. Today, the Stars faced off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the American Airlines Center.
What Time Was The Dallas Game Tonight?
The game actually started at 1:00 PM CST (2:00 PM EST).
It wasn't a "night" game at all. If you're looking for a game to watch right now, the final horn has already sounded. It was a tough one for the home crowd. The Stars ended up losing to the Lightning with a final score of 4-1.
Brandon Hagel was the one who really broke things open for Tampa Bay, scoring the tiebreaking goal in the second period. Andrei Vasilevskiy was basically a wall in the net, stopping 19 of the 20 shots Dallas threw at him. The only goal for the Stars came early from Oskar Bäck in the first period, but the offense just couldn't find another gear after that.
Wait, What About The Cowboys?
If you were searching for the Dallas Cowboys game tonight, you’ve likely realized the season is in a bit of a transition. The Cowboys wrapped up their regular season a couple of weeks ago on January 4th with a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.
For the NFL, tonight is actually about the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the local fans, the Cowboys didn't make the cut this year, finishing with a 7-9-1 record. It was a weird season—lots of injuries and some coaching shifts that just never quite clicked.
Did The Mavericks Play?
The Mavs were in action yesterday, Saturday, January 17th. They had a massive night against the Utah Jazz, winning 138-120. Klay Thompson was the headline there, hitting a career milestone of 17,000 points.
They don't have a game scheduled for tonight, Sunday the 18th. They’re likely resting up after that high-scoring affair before they hit the road again.
Why Do These Times Keep Changing?
Sports scheduling is a bit of a mess sometimes. Networks like ESPN, TNT, and local broadcasters like Victory+ or The Spot often flex game times to fit national windows. Sunday afternoon hockey is a staple because it avoids clashing directly with the massive NFL playoff viewership in the evenings.
Basically, if it's a Sunday in January, always check for a 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM start time.
How To Catch The Next One
Since you missed the Dallas game tonight because it happened while most people were having lunch, here is what you need to know for the coming week to make sure it doesn't happen again:
- Dallas Stars vs. Boston Bruins: Tuesday, January 20th. This one is back to a more traditional evening slot. Puck drop is at 6:30 PM CST at the American Airlines Center.
- Stars vs. Columbus Blue Jackets: Thursday, January 22nd. This is an away game starting at 6:00 PM CST.
- Mavs Next Game: Keep an eye on the NBA schedule as they head into late January; they’ve been dealing with some injuries to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, so the lineup might look a bit different.
If you're still looking for sports to watch tonight, the NFL playoff games are your best bet. Even without Dallas in the mix, the Divisional Round usually delivers some of the best football of the year.
Pro-tip for next time: Set a "Game Day" alert on your phone for the Stars and Mavs. The "matinee" trap is real, and it’s the easiest way to accidentally miss a game you were looking forward to all week.
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Check the local Dallas sports radio on 1310 AM or 97.1 FM for the post-game breakdowns if you want to hear the fans vent about that 4-1 loss to Tampa. It's usually pretty therapeutic after a game like that.