DALLAS –The Kraken fell behind, 2-0, for a second straight night, this time against one of the Western Conference’s top teams during this decade. But there was no reversal of momentum here in Texas. The Stars moved to 3-0 on the season with a decisive 2-0 victory. Dallas has yet to allow a goal in six periods at home this season.
Seattle finished with 25 shots on goal, testing new Dallas backup goalie Casey DeSmith on a few chances, especially in the second period. But DeSmith and goalie partner Jake Oettinger both own shutouts already. The Stars’ two-goal lead was built in less than a quarter-minute via two first-period goals scored 13 seconds apart.
Dunn Sits Out, Mahura Suits Up
Saturday’s shootout win over Minnesota came with a cost. Kraken coach Dan Bylsma began his pre-game press conference Sunday in Dallas by informing that top-pair defenseman Vince Dunn is “day-to-day, upper body.” Reserve defenseman Josh Mahura stepped into the lineup, pairing with Will Borgen while young D-man Ryker Evans moved alongside Seattle stalwart Adam Larsson. When Dunn was out with a neck injury late season last spring, Evans and Larsson were a tandem over several games.
Mid-game, Bylsma reunited the Will Borgen-Ryker Evans pairing. Overall, Kraken coach Dan Bylsma thought the defensive corps was solid, especially in the absence of an elite defenseman like Dunn.
“I thought the ‘D’ played pretty well as a group,” said Bylsma. “We’ve moved Ryker back with Will for the second half of the game. They’ve played real well together the first couple games … it’s adjustments you’re making in the game given the score, given the time [remaining]. We want offensive guys out there at the end of the game to try to get us that goal. Monty [Brandon Montour] is s playing a lot in that regard. Ryker’s playing a lot in that regard.”
Going (Differently) Forward in Third Period
Bylsma mixed up his forward lines in the third period, looking for an offensive spark. He broke up the line of Chandler Stephenson centering Jaden Schwartz and Andre Burakovsky “because the line was just generating enough” with hopes those players could create scoring chances with other linemates. Overall, Bylsma credited his squad with playing “hard-fought game” against “a fast team that plays north.”
Kraken Defenseman Vow Team Can Do Better
No doubt like all of his teammates, D-man Brandon Montour was unhappy about the outcome and said he knows the Kraken can play better and get wins.
“Although it’s a back-to-back [games] and you might be tired, it is Game 3,” said Montour. “There should be no excuse, especially going against a team like Dallas, a top-end team in the West, especially for us as a team that’s looking to kind of get over the hump and get a good run in the playoffs. That’s one you should just kind of be up for.
“The game got away from us with simple, simple plays that could have been avoided. It’s little things. I think our team needs to learn, there are a little plays, whether it’s when you’re going back into the D-zone or we got a fast team, we’ve got to move our feet and create [offense] that way … it’s easy stuff that we can fix.”
“ We didn’t really generate much into third period,” said Adam Larsson. “That’s where we have to make a push, a strong push, to win the game. We have to be better … we have something really good going, we have an energized group, even today. We just have to keep working.”
First-Period Pressure from the Stars
By the midpoint of the opening 20 minutes, Dallas held a 7-1 advantage in shots on goal and it upped to 9-3 with five minutes left in the frame. Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer faced two high-danger shots in those 15 minutes, holding steady under what felt like constant pressure or presence or both in the Kraken zone. But a third Stars high-danger chance beat Grubauer and the defensive pair of Josh Mahura and Will Borgen when original Kraken Colin Blackwell zipped a pass from near-left corner to fellow fourth-liner Steel for a far-post (aka back-door) score.
Thirteen seconds later, Dallas doubled the lead when 21-ydear-old forward Wyatt Johnston, who led the Stars in goals last year with 32, fired a hard shot from the exact dot where the puck is dropped for faceoffs in the right circle. Grubauer, who appeared to overplay the near angle, couldn’t get to Johnston’s delivery far upper corner. The period ended 2-0, though Grubauer did make a Grade-A stop late period to keep the game within reach.
Second-Period Standoff
While Dallas goalie Casey DeSmith didn’t get much action in the first period, the Stars newcomer (he signed as a free agent after backing up in goal for Vancouver last year) was arguably the home team’s best player in the middle period. Steadily during the second stanza, the Kraken and drew close to even in total shots on goal in the first 40 minutes (Seattle outshot the Stars, 12 to 9, with Grubauer turning away three more high-danger chances and DeSmith handling two Grade-A shots on goal).
Among individual players, Kraken fourth-liner Brandon Tanev was credited with three shots on goal during the first two frames with linemate Tye Kartye notching two scorchers. Only three other forwards had shots on goal.
Third-Person Jump-Start Supplied
By the end of 40 minutes, both teams were 0-for-2 on powerplays with just two shots on goal apiece. Veteran Dallas forward Evgenii Dadonov did the Kraken a favor by high-sticking Seattle’s Jaden Schwartz to draw penalty with no time remaining on the second period. But a third Kraken power play finished empty of shots and much pressure.
Philipp Grubauer continued to keep the game within reach with a breakaway save on Dallas captain Tyler Sequin with 13 minutes in the third period. Then he made a second late-game stop on a Mason Marchment breakaway attempt. But Seattle couldn’t generate enough offense from there.
‘I thought Grubi played really well,” said Bylsma. “There were a couple barrages around the net in the first period, and he stayed strong. In the third period, they got the two breakaways. Grubi came up big on and kept us in the game. He gave us a chance.”
LANDOVER, Md. — Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has made it known that he’ll voice his opinion when it comes to the team’s roster construction next season. He already has some thoughts.
“Find a way to keep a guy like [wide receiver] George [Pickens],” Prescott said after Thursday’s 30-23 road win over the Washington Commanders. “Find a way to keep a guy like [running back] Javonte [Williams].”
Those checklist items have been on the offseason agenda for the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones for quite some time. The value of Pickens and Williams has been discussed a lot over the course of this season. Their place on next year’s roster may not be set — and as we saw this past season, no one’s officially in the Cowboys’ future until a contract says so — but it’s now an expectation.
A new name might’ve joined that tier on Christmas Day.
Cowboys defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, in the words of head coach Brian Schottenheimer, was dominant in the win over the Commanders. Clowney finished with 1.5 sacks, marking the second time he’s had more than one sack in the last four games. Clowney now is tied with James Houston for the team-lead in sacks this season with 5.5.
“You look up and you saw 42 harassing the quarterback,” Schottenheimer said of Clowney. “You see 42 chasing down [plays].
“I just love the way the guy plays.”
It might be because Clowney, at 32 and in his 12th NFL season, is loving playing — even when there could be a reason not to.
Thursday’s game between the Cowboys and Commanders looked a lot better before the season. The Commanders were in the NFC Championship last season. The Cowboys had aspirations of a turnaround in Schottenheimer’s first season. Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention well before they kicked off at Northwest Stadium.
After Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Clowney was asked how he stays motivated with no path to the postseason. The question baffled Clowney.
“What you mean motivated? They’re paying me,” said Clowney, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in September. “That’s enough motivation for me. I like money.”
On Thursday, he put his money where his mouth was. Twelve years ago, when Clowney became the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, he was known for his immense physical talent. Today, his best attribute has been his effort. There’s an evident never-quit mentality to his playing style. That’s what helped him finish with 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.
Clowney’s motor this season isn’t only financially driven, however.
Schottenheimer referenced something he heard Clowney tell the younger players earlier this week as they prepared to play without any playoff hope. Clowney’s message, according to Schottenheimer, was about perspective: being appreciative of how blessed they are to play in the NFL, even if it’s a game that can’t get them toward the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl. Clowney told them to never take it for granted.
That stuck out to Schottenheimer, who’s known Clowney since their time together with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
“When he was a younger player — he can speak to this — not that he took it for granted, but he appreciates [the game] so much more now,” Schottenheimer said.
Clowney spoke to that appreciation, too.
“A lot,” Clowney said when he was asked how much fun he’s having this season. “It’s football, man. Not everybody can do it. It’s a blessing for me to still be playing 12 years. I thank God every day for that. I have a lot of fun doing it. If I could have fun doing something else I probably would, but I have so much fun doing this I look forward to Sundays, and big games, and the spotlight, and the cameras and all that … I think it brings the best out of me.”
That’s as evident as it is contagious. Prescott said he could feel Clowney’s love for the game. Prescott said he’s seen it since the Cowboys signed Clowney on Sept. 14. He believes they’re better off with Clowney on their team moving forward.
“We’re fortunate to have him,” Prescott said. “He’s one of those guys that we’ve got to figure out a way to keep.”
Good news for the Cowboys: Clowney said he’d be interested in returning to play for Dallas if they were willing to bring him back.
“I’ve got a lot left in the tank,” Clowney said. “I’m not going to go sit on my couch. I’m going to stay ready.”
Clowney even said that he’s hoping to go to training camp, which is something he didn’t do this past year. There was excitement in his voice as he talked about shaking off rust before the season, rather than ramping up like he did this year. As the season has gone on, he’s shown why he might be deserving of that chance.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
The 2025 season has been filled with plenty of ups and downs for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a year, but Dallas will ultimately miss the playoffs for the second-straight season.
While the two games left in the regular season don’t mean anything in terms of standings, there are plenty of players on Dallas’ current roster who could be playing their final two games as a Cowboy. With that thought in mind, today we take a look at two impact players who could be suiting up as Cowboys for the final two times in the coming weeks.
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There is no denying that Cowboys’ running back Javonte Williams has had an outstanding 2025 campaign. After a breakout rookie year in 2021, Williams suffered major injuries, including a torn ACL in 2022, and many believed he would never reach his top form again.
Dallas took a chance on the 25-year-old running back, signing him to a one-year deal in hopes that he still had some juice left in the tank. The move turned out to be one of Dallas’ best of the offseason, as Williams has put together a career year in his fifth season in the league.
On the year, Williams is fourth in the NFL in first downs rushing, sixth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,147), tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (10) to go with a career-high 56.1% Rushing Success Rate. Williams has slowed down considerably in the second half of the season, averaging just 4.2 Y/A over his last four games. Still, those shortcomings are more a product of the recent struggles of Dallas’s offensive line, which has been a very inconsistent unit over the past four to five weeks.
Williams has been a diamond in the rough find for Dallas’ front office, but his outstanding 2025 campaign could price him out of a return to the Cowboys. While the 2026 free agent running back market does include some capable players (Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker), Williams will still be a hot commodity for running back-needy teams.
At just 25-years-old, at least one team will likely be willing to offer Williams a multi-year contract. Spotrac projects the running back to earn a three-year, $22M deal on the open market. While $7M a year isn’t a huge number, with all of Dallas’ needs to address elsewhere on the roster, it seems unlikely they would seriously consider bringing Williams back to Dallas at that number.
If Williams has found a home in Dallas and is willing to take a more modest number to remain here, he may stay. If he’s looking to cash in on his career-changing year, which he almost certainly will be, there’s a very good chance he’s about to play his final two games as a Cowboy.
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When the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark back at the beginning of September, the 30-year-old veteran had big shoes to fill. While no one expected Clark to replicate Micah Parsons’ production on Dallas’ defense, Clark filled a big need the Cowboys had at defensive tackle and figured to be a guy who could make a significant impact right away.
With how bad the Cowboys’ defense has been as a whole, Clark’s season has gone a bit unnoticed, but the 10-year veteran has had a very productive year. When Dallas acquired Clark, they knew he would be solid against the run, but questions remained about whether he had anything left in the tank as a pass rusher. Surprisingly, Clark has turned back the clock a bit this year and has been a more than adequate pass-rushing defensive tackle.
In 15 games, Clark has recorded 43 total pressures, 33 QB Hurries, and four sacks, via Pro Football Focus. With two more games to add to these totals, Clark will likely finish with the second-most pressures, hurries, and sacks in his last four seasons. While the totals aren’t close to his star-studded 2023 campaign, they are still impressive for a veteran interior defensive linemen.
Clark has had a more than acceptable first season in Dallas, but his long-term future as a Cowboy is anything but certain. With the Cowboys acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, there’s a chance Dallas will not be able to afford to keep Clark, Williams, and 27-year-old Osa Odighizuwa all on their roster in 2026.
Of those three, Clark is the most obvious choice if Dallas is going to cut ties with one of the defensive tackles. The way Clark’s contract is structured, the Cowboys can get out of the deal this offseason with no penalty. If Dallas were to cut Clark (pre or post June 1), they would incur no dead money and save $21M against the cap this year and $20M in 2027.
As mentioned above, the Cowboys have so many other needs to address on their roster this offseason, keeping Clark at a $21.5M cap number just does not feel like a realistic option. Dallas could restructure the veteran’s contract to lower his 2026 cap number and keep him as a Cowboy for the remainder of his deal, but the more likely scenario seems to be Dallas releasing him at some point next summer.
The Dallas-Fort Worth economy is ending 2025 in a much different manner than it began.
In a year that started with all eyes on Washington, D.C. and an incoming (and repeat) Trump Administration, North Texas carved its own path, reshaping the business landscape for years to come. Here are a few of the biggest stories of 2025:
Once a bellwether of the retail world, Plano-based JCPenney in January said that it was merging with Sparc Group to form Catalyst Brands, bringing in names such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.
Longtime Dallas-based luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus, which was acquired in 2024 by Saks Global, announced and then unannounced that it would close its iconic downtown department store. The move was a blow to downtown leaders and city officials in an era when the central business district is being displaced as the region’s business and cultural epicenter.
Texas became the hotbed for the data center boom this year, with dozens of companies announcing plans for these energy-sucking, AI-enabling facilities. Gasoline was thrown on an already sizzling market when OpenAi announced its Stargate initiative in February. This adds to major North Texas data center projects from players such as Meta, Google and Nvidia partners Aligned and Wistron.
After more than six years of discussions — delayed by new economic realities after the COVID-19 pandemic — DFW International Airport and American Airlines finalized a deal for a super-sized $4 billion Terminal F, the first new terminal since 2005. The upsized plans will include 31 new gates, exclusively occupied by Fort Worth-based American. The first phase should open in 2027.
Celebrity TV problem solver Phil McGraw saw his North Texas-based startup Merit Street Media crumble in 2025 and file for bankruptcy, starting a contentious, fireworks-filled and often baffling court battle with partners such as Professional Bull Riders and Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was more entertaining than the famous Dr. Phil “Cash Me Outside” episode.
Dallas-based banking giant Comerica was purchased by Ohio’s Fifth Third Bancorp in a $10.9 billion deal. Fifth Third was essentially buying its way into the Texas market, alongside branches in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas.
These are just a few of the major storylines. There is also the drama about a Dallas ranch real estate agent killed by a buffalo during a hunt in South Africa, numerous real estate deals and residential expansions, arena searches by Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams that turned into a soap opera. A Muslim-centric development near Josephine gained national notoriety from politicians railing against the project.
National economic storylines such as international import tariffs and more aggressive national immigration enforcement efforts all reshaped the North Texas economy, too.
One thing was consistent. The Dallas-Fort Worth economy kept chugging along, adding some 42,600 jobs between the beginning of the year and the end of the third quarter. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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