At a Glance
- Jason Robertson scored twice as Dallas ended a three-game slide and halted Boston’s six-game win streak
- Wyatt Johnston added his league-best 16th power-play goal in the 6-2 victory
- Miro Heiskanen recorded three assists and Jake Oettinger made 16 saves
- Why it matters: The Stars’ offensive explosion came after scoring only three goals in their previous three games
The Dallas Stars rediscovered their scoring touch Tuesday night, riding Jason Robertson’s two goals and Justin Hryckowian’s goal-plus-two-assist performance to a 6-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins at American Airlines Center.
Offensive Breakthrough
Dallas entered the contest mired in a three-game losing streak and had mustered just three goals during that stretch. The six-goal outburst snapped both the team’s skid and the Bruins’ six-game winning streak.
Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque and Esa Lindell also found the back of the net. Miro Heiskanen chipped in three assists, while goaltender Jake Oettinger turned aside 16 shots.
Boston trailed 6-0 midway through the third period before Morgan Geekie converted on the power play, tipping in David Pastrnak’s shot to end Oettinger’s shutout bid with 7:49 remaining. The tally ended Geekie’s personal 12-game goal drought.
Fraser Minten added a late goal for the Bruins, who saw starter Jeremy Swayman make 28 saves before being relieved in favor of Joonas Korpisalo, who stopped three of the four shots he faced.
Power-Play Prowess
The Stars played without leading scorer Mikko Rantanen (19 goals, 44 assists), who was scratched due to illness, yet still managed to capitalize with the man advantage.
Johnston’s first-period marker at the 16:08 mark came on the power play and upped his season total to 16 such goals – the most in the NHL. Bourque’s opening-frame tally also came on the power play.
Johnston has now recorded six goals and six assists over his last 12 games, solidifying his role as a top contributor.
Third-Period Surge
Robertson provided the dagger early in the final frame, scoring twice in a 3:18 span to push the lead to 6-0. The pair of goals gave him 29 on the season, extending his team lead.
Boston had allowed two goals or fewer in each game during its six-game surge, but the Stars surpassed that total before the midpoint of the contest.
Special Teams & Possession
Dallas dominated possession, outshooting the Bruins 37-18 and winning 65 percent of faceoffs. The Stars converted 2-of-5 power-play opportunities, while the Bruins went 1-for-4 on the man advantage.
Up Next
- Bruins: Return home to host the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night
- Stars: Hit the road to face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night
Key Takeaways
- The victory was Dallas’ first since January 11 and improved its record to 28-15-4
- Boston’s loss dropped its mark to 31-10-4, though it remains atop the Eastern Conference
- The Stars’ special teams played a pivotal role, scoring twice on the power play while killing three-of-four penalties
Derrick M. Collins reported from Dallas.
