The Dallas Stars secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory against the defensively strong Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. Jason Robertson, the team's leading goal-scorer, delivered the decisive blow late in the third period.
Robertson Breaks the Deadlock
With just 3 minutes and 46 seconds left on the clock, the game was tied 1-1. Robertson seized a crucial opportunity. He intercepted a pass intended for Kings defenseman Drew Doughty. The puck then deflected off teammate Mikey Anderson and slipped past Los Angeles goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
This savvy backhand shot gave the Stars a 2-1 lead. It proved to be the game-winning goal in a contest where scoring chances were scarce.
Sealing the Victory
Matt Duchene added an empty-net goal in the final moments to extend the lead to 3-1. Wyatt Johnston had scored the other goal for Dallas earlier in the game.
The match was a defensive grind from start to finish. Both goaltenders, especially Dallas's Jake Oettinger, made key saves to keep their teams in contention.
Post-Game Reactions
Dallas captain Jamie Benn, returning after a three-game absence due to a nose injury, praised the team's effort. "I think that's exactly what we needed," Benn said. "A game that is not pretty at all. It's a grind right to the end, your goalie is your best player, and you find a way to win."
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan echoed this sentiment. "You need a mucky goal like that," he remarked. "When it's that close, you're looking for a one-percenter, just to try to change it some way."
Momentum Shifts
The Kings briefly gained momentum in the third period when a Dallas goal was disallowed. However, Robertson's late strike quickly extinguished any hopes of a Los Angeles comeback.
Jake Oettinger was stellar in net for the Stars. He turned back several key scoring opportunities, including a late barrage from the Kings' offense.
Team Standings and Trends
With this win, the Dallas Stars improve their record to 27 wins, 10 losses, and 9 overtime losses. They are now 2-0-1 in their last three games, snapping a previous six-game losing streak.
Conversely, the Los Angeles Kings continue to struggle offensively. The two-time Stanley Cup champions have lost three of their last four games. They remain one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league this season.
The Stars will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup. The Kings, meanwhile, must find solutions to their persistent scoring woes as they aim to climb the standings.
