A look back on three top plays that impacted the Dallas Stars this past week.
A look back on three top plays that impacted the Dallas Stars this past week.
The Dallas Stars spent most of last week in California, sweeping the three-game road trip with a miraculous comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday and wins over the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings Friday and Saturday.
All three games certainly had their share of great highlights; the challenge each week will be to keep the number at just three, especially as the race to the postseason intensifies.
But, here we go: the first installment of Highlight Hat Trick. What better way to kick it off than with... a hat trick?
1. Stars at Sharks: Johnny Gets a Hatty
It would be easy to devote this entire space to the Stars' 7-6 overtime comeback thriller in San Jose. Not surprisingly, more than one play from that game made this week's top three.
Wyatt Johnston continues to dazzle in his second year with the Stars. Through 66 games, he's tallied 49 points (23-26-49) with a plus/minus of +3.
Johnston picked up his first career NHL hat trick to go along with two assists against the Sharks. His first goal came at the 8:48 mark of the second period, getting a tip-in off a backdoor pass from Jamie Benn to tie the game 3-3.
At 13:41 of the third period, Johnston banked in a shot from the left post to cut the Sharks' lead to 6-5. He tied the score two minutes later after getting a Miro Heiskanen rebound that had bounced off the end boards, securing his first hat trick.
There were plenty of heroes to choose from in the win along with Johnston. Logan Stankoven scored two goals and had two assists, Benn had a goal and three assists and Heiskanen chipped in with four helpers. Then, there was Roope Hintz.
2. Stars at Sharks: Hintz Caps Off a Tuesday Miracle
The two teams headed to overtime tied 6-6. It didn't take long for Roope Hintz to send the Stars into celebration mode and the Sharks licking their wounds.
Just 1:49 into overtime, Hintz came off the bench and skated into the zone. Stankoven hit him with a beautiful pass, and Hintz banged a shot from the high slot on goalie Kaapo Kahkonen's blocker side. The Tuesday night miracle (or Wednesday morning) depending on what time zone you were in) was complete.
3. Stars at Ducks: Tanev's First Tally
The Dallas Stars seem to be a good luck charm for Chris Tanev. The defenseman who was traded to Dallas by way of the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils came into last Friday's game against the Anaheim Ducks with just one goal this season, and it came against Dallas.
Tanev was hoping to continue the magic, this time in a Dallas uniform. Sure enough, he got his wish.
It only took a minute into the first period for Tanev to rifle a wrister over the shoulder of Ducks goalie John Gibson, with a crush of players around the net.
Dallas signed Tanev more for his defense, shot-blocking and physical play than goal-scoring. But nobody on the team will complain if he puts one in the net once in a while.
By the way, Dallas won the game 6-2, Roope Hintz crossed the 300-point mark for his career, and Heiskanen became the first defenseman in team history to have six assists over a two-game span.
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