The Dallas Stars closed out their regular season on a high note Wednesday night, outlasting the Buffalo Sabres 4–3 in a shootout at KeyBank Center.

Wyatt Johnston buried the decisive goal in the fourth round of the tiebreaker, sealing Dallas’ fifth straight victory and capping a late-season surge that carried them to the 50-win mark.

Esa Lindell and Justin Hryckowian each finished with a goal and an assist, while Jake Oettinger provided stability in net with 21 saves. The result moved the Stars to 50–20–12 and secured second place in the Central Division. With that finish, Dallas now turns its attention to a first-round playoff meeting with the Minnesota Wild.

Buffalo ended its regular season at 50–23–9, seeing a four-game winning streak come to an end. Zach Benson posted a goal and an assist, Owen Power added two helpers, and Colten Ellis made 25 saves in the loss. Even so, the Sabres locked up the Atlantic Division title and will open the postseason against the Boston Bruins.

Dallas opened the scoring when Mavrik Bourque finished at the net front after Esa Lindell’s point shot created a chaotic rebound in the crease. Buffalo answered later in the first period when Josh Norris converted on a rush chance set up by Zach Benson, firing a wrist shot past Oettinger to level the game.

The Sabres seized momentum early in the second period with a shorthanded breakaway finish from Benson, who capitalized after a strong defensive read and quick outlet from Tyson Kozak. Dallas responded on the power play when Lindell’s attempted pass redirected off a defender and into the net, bringing the game back to even.

Buffalo regained the lead midway through the period on a landmark goal from Alex Tuch, who scored the 200th of his NHL career with a sharp-angle finish from the goal line. Dallas answered once again as Justin Hryckowian jumped on a turnover in the neutral zone and converted on a 2-on-1 rush with Jamie Benn, tying the game 3–3 heading into the final stretch.

Neither team found a winner in overtime, sending the game to a shootout where both sides traded goals deep into the sequence. Johnston eventually settled it in the fourth round, finishing cleanly to secure the extra point for Dallas.

The victory marked the Stars’ third straight 50-win season, the longest such stretch in franchise history, underscoring the consistency of their core as the playoffs approach. Forward Sam Steel also returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence, adding depth in his first game back.

For Buffalo, the loss did little to overshadow a breakout regular season defined by growth from its young core. Benson’s multi-point night pushed him to the 100-point milestone, placing him among the youngest players in franchise history to reach that mark. The Sabres head into the postseason with momentum and a division title, despite the shootout setback.