The Dallas Stars were back at the American Airlines Center to host the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Stars, however, lost 4-1 to the Maple Leafs on Thursday night. Dallas fell to 4-1-1, while Toronto improved to 5-2-0. Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll made 31 saves for a road win.
Before the game, Dallas celebrated Joe Pavelski’s 1,000 NHL point milestone. Pavelski, now 39, reached 1,000 NHL points on April 10, 2023.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Jani Hakanpää, Tyler Seguin, Thomas Harley, Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, and Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood made 20 saves in a losing effort at home.
The Maple Leafs drew first blood and held the Stars to just five shots on goal in the first period. Morgan Reilly fired a snap shot into the Stars’ net for a 1-0 lead at 9:49 of the first. William Nylander collected the lone assist on Reilly’s second of the season.
The Stars trailed the Maple Leafs 1-0 after 20 minutes. Toronto outshot Dallas 8-5.
The Stars finally got on the board in the second period, and the home crowd cheered as “Puck Off” by Pantera played. Mason Marchment tied the game 1-1 at 11:16 of the second with a wrist shot into the Maple Leafs’ net. Matt Duchene and Ryan Suter collected the assists on Marchment’s first of the season.
The Maple Leafs took the lead late in the second period. Mitchell Marner fired a snap shot into the Stars’ net to put the Maple Leafs up 2-1 at 18:07 of the second. Auston Matthews collected the lone assist on Marner’s second of the season.
The Stars trailed the Maple Leafs by one, 2-1, after 40 minutes. Dallas outshot Toronto 21-19.
The Maple Leafs extended the lead early in the third period. Tyler Bertuzzi redirected a shot and scored a tip-in goal on the power play to give the Maple Leafs a 3-1 lead 5:08 into the third. Morgan Reilly and Matthew Knies collected the assists on Bertuzzi’s second of the season.
John Klingberg, a Maple Leafs defenseman and former Dallas Stars d-man, spent two minutes in the penalty box for hooking Thomas Harley at 11:05 of the third period. The Stars were unable to capitalize on the power play.
The Maple Leafs expanded the lead late in the third period. Maple Leafs captain John Tavares scored an empty-net goal to make it 4-1 Maple Leafs with ten seconds left in the third.
The Stars lost 4-1 to the Maple Leafs, who handed them their first regulation loss of the season after a full 60 minutes. Dallas outshot Toronto 32-24.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Morgan Reilly (two points: one goal and one assist)
2. Joseph Woll (1.00 GAA and 0.969 SV%)
3. Mason Marchment (one point: one goal)
Pregame
Stars head coach Pete DeBoer made a goaltending decision, starting Scott Wedgewood in the Stars’ net, during his pregame press conference.
Up Next
The Stars will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m. Central.
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