After a stop in Northern California, the Dallas Stars traveled to Southern California to take on the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Here’s my Stars’ Southern California recap.
Friday, March 8
The Stars faced the Ducks in Orange County for the third and final time this season. The Stars got six goals from six players for a dominant 6-2 win over the Ducks at the Honda Center on Friday night. Dallas improved to 39-17-9, while Anaheim fell to 23-37-3.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Miro Heiskanen, Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, Thomas Harley, Jamie Benn, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 25 saves for a win. Meanwhile, Ducks goalie John Gibson made 30 saves in a losing effort.
Chris Tanev scored his first goal as a Dallas Star to help the Stars get on the board first. Tanev fired a wrist shot into the Ducks’ net for an early 1-0 lead at 1:14. Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell collected the assists on Tanev’s second of the season. Tanev scored his lone goal in Calgary for 2023-24 on November 30, 2023, vs. Dallas. Additionally, Hintz notched his 300th NHL point with his 29th assist of the season.
Bo Groulx was called for holding against Chris Tanev at 16:16. Roope Hintz capitalized on the man advantage for a power-play goal on a tip-in shot and a 2-0 lead at 17:19. Miro Heiskanen and Jamie Benn collected the assists on Hintz’s eighth of the season.
Radek Faksa tripled the Stars’ lead with a tip-in shot into the Ducks’ net for a 3-0 score at 18:56. Sam Steel and Joe Pavelski collected the assists on Faksa’s fifth of the season.
The Stars had a comfortable 3-0 lead at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Anaheim 20-8 after 20 minutes.
Radko Gudas was called for delaying the game with the puck over the glass at 4:56 of the second period. Jamie Benn capitalized on the man advantage for a power-play goal on a snap shot to make it a 4-0 game at 5:31. Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson collected the assists on Benn’s 11th of the season.
Ryan Strome ended the Stars’ shutout bid with a tip-in shot past Jake Oettinger to cut the lead to 4-1 at 6:06. Frank Vatrano and Pavel Mintyukov collected the assists on Strome’s 11th of the season.
Mason Marchment fired a wrist shot into the Ducks’ net to make it a 5-1 game at 14:18. Jason Robertson collected the lone assist on Marchment’s 19th of the season, which was also a new career-high.
The Stars held a commanding 5-1 lead at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Anaheim 26-12 through 40 minutes.
Chris Tanev was called for hooking against Max Jones at 3:39 of the third period. Alex Killorn capitalized on the man advantage and put a wrist shot home for a power-play goal that cut the Stars’ lead to 5-2 at 4:13. Ryan Strome and Cam Fowler collected the assists on Killorn’s 11th of the season.
Radko Gudas was called for tripping against Miro Heiskanen at 6:18. Joe Pavelski capitalized on the man advantage with a wrist shot for a power-play goal and a 6-2 lead at 7:18. Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene collected the assists on Pavelski’s 22nd of the season.
The Stars defeated the Ducks 6-2 in regulation. Dallas outshot Anaheim 36-28 after a full 60 minutes.
Saturday, March 9
The Stars took a bus up the I-5 to face the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles. The Stars dethroned the Kings 4-1 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Dallas improved to 40-17-9, while LA fell to 32-20-11.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski, Thomas Harley, Jason Robertson, and Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood made 26 saves for a win, while Kings goalie Cam Talbot made 31 saves in a losing effort.
Kevin Fiala wasted no time getting the Kings on the board. Fiala’s tip-in shot gave LA a quick 1-0 lead 26 seconds into the first period. Drew Doughty collected the lone assist on Fiala’s 21st of the season.
The Stars trailed 1-0 at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot LA 15-6 after 20 minutes.
Radek Faksa opened the second-period scoring with a snap shot past the Kings’ net to tie the game 1-1 at 10:34. Craig Smith collected the lone assist on Faksa’s sixth of the season.
Jason Robertson put the Stars up 2-1 with a wrist shot at 10:52. Joe Pavelski and Esa Lindell collected the assists on Robertson’s 22nd of the season.
The Stars brought a 2-1 lead to the locker room at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot LA 27-18 through 40 minutes.
Phillip Danault was called for tripping against Jason Robertson at 4:48. Wyatt Johnston capitalized on the man advantage on a wrist shot for a power-play goal and a 3-1 lead at 6:47. Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment collected the assists on Johnston’s 23rd of the season.
Joe Pavelski put a backhand shot into an empty net for an empty netter and a 4-1 lead at 16:20. Jason Robertson collected the lone assist on Pavelski’s 23rd of the season.
The Stars downed the Kings 4-1 in regulation. Dallas outshot LA 35-27 after a full 60 minutes.
Just a Reminder
The Stars will immortalize Mike Modano at the PNC Plaza on Saturday, March 16.
Up Next
The Stars will return to Dallas to host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m. Central.
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