The Dallas Stars welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to the American Airlines Center for a Friday night hockey game. The Stars ended the five-game homestand with a 5-2 win over the Penguins. Dallas improved to 43-19-9, while Pittsburgh fell to 30-30-9.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski, Thomas Harley, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 20 saves for a win. Meanwhile, Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry made 16 saves in a losing effort.
The Penguins shocked the Stars fans by getting on the board first. Michael Bunting blasted a snap shot off his glove and into the Stars’ net for an early 1-0 lead at 2:45 of the first period. Evgeni Malkin and Pierre-Olivier Joseph collected the assists on Bunting’s 16th of the season.
The Stars responded with the equalizer. Joe Pavelski put a backhand shot into the Penguins’ net to tie the game 1-1 at 7:16 of the first period. Thomas Harley and Jason Robertson collected the assists on Pavelski’s 25th of the season.
The Stars and Penguins were tied 1-1 at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Pittsburgh 10-8. Moreover, Pittsburgh carried 27 seconds of the 5-on-4 power-play into the second period but couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage.
The Stars took a two-goal lead in the blink of an eye. Rickard Rakell was called for hooking against Tyler Seguin at 5:30 of the second period. Stars captain Jamie Benn capitalized on the man advantage with a wrist shot into the Penguins’ net to make it a 2-1 game at 5:52. Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson collected the assists on Benn’s 14th of the season. With the goal, Benn upped his power-play goals to six so far this season. Benn added a wrist-shot goal to put the Stars up 3-1 at 7:09. Logan Stankoven collected the lone assist on Benn’s 15th of the season and second of the night.
The Stars brought a 3-1 lead to the locker room at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Pittsburgh 17-14 through 40 minutes.
The Stars extended the lead to open the third-period scoring. Sam Steel fired a wrist shot past Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry to extend the Stars’ lead to 4-1 at 4:37 of the third period. Craig Smith collected the lone assist on Steel’s eighth of the season.
But the Penguins made it a two-goal game. Rickard Rakell blasted a snap shot past Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger to cut the Stars’ lead in half, 4-2, at 11:03 of the third period. Evgeni Malkin and Michael Bunting collected the assists on Rakell’s 11th of the season.
The Stars beat the Penguins 4-2 in regulation. Dallas outshot Pittsburgh 23-22 after a full 60 minutes.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Jamie Benn (2 points: 2 goals)
2. Jason Robertson (2 points: 2 assists)
3. Sam Steel (1 point: 1 goal)
New Loan
The Dallas Stars loaned Matt Murray (goaltender) to the Texas Stars on Thursday morning.
Up Next
The Stars and Arizona Coyotes will meet again for a rematch on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Central.
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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