Wednesday’s game is the fifth matchup of the sibling rivalry at the NHL level, with the Leafs winning every previous meeting.
The battle of the Robertson brothers gets renewed on Wednesday night.
It’s the first matchup of the season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Dallas Stars, with Dallas set to make their lone trip to Toronto in mid-January.
“It’s fun and sometimes not because I want the best for my bro but I also want what’s best for the team,” said Nick Robertson in his pre-game availability.
“Tonight, I’m going to put my feelings for him away and help the team win. I mean, it’s nice I get to see him. It's tough because you want to win and do all the things you can and you know he’s on the other side. It kind of makes it a little weird but it is what it is.”
“It’s obviously special in the NHL. It’s never a moment you can take for granted,” said Jason Robertson pre-game. “I mean, there aren’t many brothers in this league. These opportunities don’t come much. So, yeah, it is special in that way.”
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Since both players made the NHL, the Maple Leafs have had the upper hand in this family feud, winning all four previous meetings. Last season, Toronto claimed a 4-1 victory in Dallas in October 2023 and followed it up with a 5-4 win at Scotiabank Arena in February. Yet, despite the Leafs’ dominance, Nick insists he doesn’t rub it in. “No, I don’t. I don’t,” he said with a laugh. “He knows, though.”
Robertson’s lack of production has previously kept him out of the lineup, recording just three goals and an assist in 24 games. Most recently, he was scratched against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday in a 4-2 loss.
However, Robertson earned his way back into the lineup on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres, joining Max Domi and Bobby McMann to form a productive third line. The trio combined for six points in a 5-3 victory, with Robertson and Domi each recording a goal and an assist, while McMann added two helpers.
“It was the best game of the season for myself,” Robertson said. “We all touched the puck together, it was really nice.”
“We have a lot of speed, I know those guys well, they know me. We can all shoot, we can all move our feet and play fast. I think we stick to keeping our game simple but also with our speed and letting Domes do his thing and me and Bob just shooting the puck, I think it just works well,” he added.
The line’s success ensures that Robertson will get another chance to prove himself, this time with his parents in attendance, according to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.
The parents of the Robertson brothers, who also live in Dallas, will be in attendance. Their mother will be wearing a Maple Leafs hat and a Stars jersey to the game tonight.
“I want to earn every game, I want to play every game. So that’s my goal and I want to do everything necessary to do so,” Robertson said.
U.S. National Teammates Meet For the First Time
Meanwhile, Joseph Woll is taking on Jake Oettinger for the first time in the NHL on Wednesday night. The two were previously US National teammates from 2014-16 before Woll played for Boston College while Oettinger played for Boston University – starters for rival teams. The former goaltending tandem also spent time together representing the United States in tournament play at the World Juniors.
Last season, Oettinger had high praise for Woll, saying, “He's a stud. You can ask anyone in our locker room, last year in the playoffs I was saying I think that will be his net very soon.”
Woll mentioned ahead of the club’s first matchup with the Stars last year, “I had the opportunity to play with him, play against him, at about every level. So it’s pretty awesome… I’m really glad to see the success he’s had and hope to have a chance to play against him at some point in my career.”
It’s no secret the two have a special bond and friendship, dating back well before their NHL playing days. Now, the two get their wish to face off against one another – looking to earn bragging rights.
Going forward, Woll is looking to have a heavy role in the crease for Toronto with the recent news of a knee injury to Anthony Stolarz – who is set to miss approximately four to six weeks. On the season, Woll has posted impressive numbers after his return to injury to open the year, posting an 8-4-0 record, 2.24 goals against average, and a .918 save percentage.
“The confidence is based on what he has been,” Robertson said of Woll. “He’s always been a really composed, really poised goaltender and we just go off that.”
On the other end of the ice, Oettinger has been a workhorse for the Stars. He has played in 23 games, leading Dallas with a 16-7-0 record, 2.32 goals against average, and a .913 save percentage.
Each goaltender will be eager to outshine the other, with Woll aiming to rebound and secure a spot in the win column.