Dallas Stars cruised to an 8-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, securing their third straight road win and keeping their NHL-best 13-2-4 record intact.
Dominant Performance
The Stars’ eight-goal output tied a season high, matching the 8-3 win at Edmonton on Nov. 25. Jason Robertson led the way with two goals and an assist, while Roope Hintz and Thomas Harley each added a goal and an assist. Oskar Bäck, Sam Steel, Ilya Lybushkin and Adam Erne also found the back of the net, giving Dallas a total of eight points.
Key Players and Contributions
Robertson’s first goal came on a power play with 8:50 remaining in the second period, and he followed it with a backhander past Petr Mrazek from the right circle four minutes later to make the score 6-1. His performance gave him a team-leading 22 goals. Hintz regained the lead at 4:42 with a pass from Robertson in the slot, firing past Lukas Dostal for his 11th. Steel’s 3-1 goal, which was confirmed after a review, was scored with 7:19 left in the first period. Harley’s goal at 1:38 added a third-goal cushion after a pass from Mikko Rantanen. Adam Erne’s goal with 1:30 left in the middle period pushed the lead to six.
Ducks Struggle and Goaltending
The Ducks’ offense was limited to three goals from Ryan Poehling, Beckett Sennecke and Mikael Granlund. They have lost four of their last five games. Lukas Dostal gave up four goals on seven shots before being pulled with 5:41 left in the first period. Petr Mrazek replaced him and stopped 14 of the 18 shots he faced for the remainder of the game, while Casey DeSmith recorded 23 saves for the Stars.
Road Record Context
Dallas’s 8-3 win ties the highest number of goals the team has scored in a game this season and remains the most the Ducks have allowed in any game. The victory keeps the Stars at the top of the NHL with a road record of 13-2-4.
Upcoming Games
The Stars will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, while the Ducks will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Key Takeaways
- Dallas Stars win 8-3 over Anaheim Ducks, securing third straight road victory.
- Jason Robertson tallies two goals and an assist, contributing to a team-leading 22 goals.
- Ducks’ goaltender Lukas Dostal is replaced by Petr Mrazek after conceding four goals early.
The Stars’ dominant performance on the road demonstrates their consistency and sets the stage for their upcoming matchup against Toronto.
