Stars Take Down Lightning 8-1

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 47: Then There Was Nothing Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.
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  2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos
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Ana Kieu

Ana Kieu is a journalist by trade. Her love for sports shows in her writing, editing, and podcasting work. She writes about the NHL for Inside The Rink.

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