After a much-needed day off, the Dallas Stars were home in the Metroplex to host the Winnipeg Jets and celebrate Throwback Thursday with a Retro Night. The Stars demolished the Jets 4-1 at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. Dallas improved to 36-17-9, while Winnipeg fell to 37-16-5.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Jani Hakanpää, Mason Marchment, Ty Dellandrea, Matt Duchene, Esa Lindell, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 25 saves for a win. Meanwhile, Jets starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck made a whopping 32 saves in a losing effort.
Thursday’s Stars-Jets matchup highlighted two American hockey stars: Stars forward and alternate captain Joe Pavelski from Plover, Wisconsin, and Jets forward Kyle Connor, from Clinton Township, Michigan.
The Stars got on the board. Jason Robertson blasted a snap shot into the Jets’ net for a 1-0 lead at 6:52 of the opening period. Joe Pavelski collected the lone assist on Robertson’s 20th of the season. With the goal, Robertson now has nine goals in 10 games against the Jets.
The Stars’ lead rose up. Joe Pavelski managed to tip in a shot past Connor Hellebuyck to put the Stars up 2-0 at 16:41 of the first period. Jani Hakanpää and Roope Hintz collected the assists on Pavelski’s 21st of the season.
The Stars’ lead increased when Logan Stankoven used a backhand shot to extend the Stars’ lead to 3-0 at 18:17 of the first period. Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn collected the assists on Stankoven’s third of the season. With the goal, Stankoven now has three goals in three games in a row.
The Stars led the Jets 3-0 at the end of the first period. Winnipeg outshot Dallas 12-10 after 20 minutes.
Ryan Suter was called for tripping against Nikolaj Ehlers at 11:48 of the second period. The Jets received a power play, capitalized on the man advantage, and ended the Stars’ shutout bid. Vladislav Namestnikov fired a wrist shot past Jake Oettinger to cut the Stars’ lead to 3-1 at 13:24. Nikolaj Ehlers and Neal Pionk collected the assists on Namestnikov’s seventh of the season.
The Stars gave up a goal, but maintained a comfortable two-goal lead, 3-1, over the Jets at the end of two periods. Shots were tied 20-20 through 40 minutes.
The Stars requested another goal in the third period, and their request was fulfilled. Roope Hintz fired a backhand shot that found its way into the Jets’ empty net to expand the Stars’ lead to 4-1 at 18:50. Hintz’s unassisted goal was his 24th of the season.
The Stars demolished the Jets 4-1 at the end of regulation. Dallas outshot Winnipeg 36-26 after a full 60 minutes. With the win, Dallas erased their first-place with Winnipeg for the Central division title.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Jake Oettinger (1.00 GAA and .962 SV%)
2. Joe Pavelski (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)
3. Wyatt Johnston (1 point: 1 assist)
First Time
According to Stars play-by-play broadcaster Josh Bogorad via NHL Stats, Logan Stankoven is the first player in Stars’ history to have a three-game goal-scoring streak in the first week of his NHL career.
Up Next
The Stars will welcome the San Jose Sharks to Dallas this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Central.
