The Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning played the first game of their home-and-home series on Saturday afternoon. The Stars took down the Lightning 8-1 at the American Airlines Center. Dallas improved to 14-5-3, while Tampa Bay fell to 10-10-5.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Jani Hakanpää, Esa Lindell, Ty Dellandrea, Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 32 saves for a win, while Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars took an early lead and scored three goals in the first ten minutes of the opening period.
Tyler Seguin swatted the puck home for a 1-0 lead at 1:01. Mason Marchment and Miro Heiskanen collected the assists on Seguin’s eighth of the season.
Jason Robertson ripped a snap shot into the Lightning’s net to double the lead to 2-0 at 6:28. Joe Pavelski collected the lone assist on Robertson’s seventh of the season.
Stars captain Jamie Benn tripled the lead to 3-0 with a top-shelf wrist shot at 7:39. Wyatt Johnston and Jani Hakanpää collected the assists on Benn’s fifth of the season.
The Lightning finally got on the board to reduce the Stars’ lead to 3-1 at 12:25. Victor Hedman capitalized on the man advantage by firing a wrist shot into the Stars’ net for a power-play goal. Nikita Kucherov collected the lone assist on Hedman’s fifth of the season.
The Stars led the Lightning 3-1 at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Tampa Bay 11-10 after 20 minutes.
The Stars’ show resumed in the second period.
Mason Marchment launched a quick, low-key slap slapshot to make it a 4-1 game at 3:42. Jani Hakanpää and Esa Lindell collected the assists on Marchment’s seventh of the season.
Joe Pavelski extended the Stars’ lead to 5-1 with a tip-in goal on the power play at 12:25. Thomas Harley and Roope Hintz collected the assists on Pavelski’s 11th of the season.
Jason Robertson expanded the Stars’ lead to 6-1 with a blistering snapshot on the power play at 14:23. Jamie Benn and Roope Hintz collected the assists on Robertson’s eighth of the season.
The Stars took a commanding 6-1 lead to the locker room at the end of the second. Dallas outshot Tampa Bay 25-20 after 40 minutes.
The Stars remained in the driver’s seat in the third period.
Thomas Harley fired a wrist shot into the Lightning’s net to give the Stars a 7-1 lead at 13:27. Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter collected the assists on Harley’s fifth of the season.
The Stars matched their season-high for goals in a game when Sam Steel scored on a snapshot to help the Stars to an 8-1 lead at 14:26. Radek Faksa collected the lone assist on Steel’s second of the season.
The Stars blew out the Lightning 8-1 at the end of regulation. Dallas outshot Tampa Bay 34-33 after a full 60 minutes.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Mason Marchment (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)
2. Jason Robertson (2 points: 2 goals)
3. Joe Pavelski (3 points: 1 goal and 2 assists)
Joy for the Holidays
Jason Robertson’s first Holiday Toy Drive gameday dropoff occurred before Saturday’s Stars vs. Lightning game at PNC Plaza. Fans dropped off new, unwrapped toys for a good cause.
Up Next
The Stars and Lightning will wrap up their home-and-home series at Amalie Arena on Monday at 6:00 p.m. Central.
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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