Good things happen for the Dallas Stars when Jason Robertson puts pucks in the net.
The Stars’ left winger led Dallas with a hat trick in a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday night at American Airlines Center during the team’s Hall of Fame weekend. Robertson now has multiple goals in back-to-back games and is on a three-game goal streak. His team is on a five-game win streak and has secured points in 12 of its last 13 games.
“Maybe I’m shooting the puck a little bit more or being more assertive, but I’ve had those chances all season,” Robertson said. “When you get one or two, confidence goes up.”
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Robertson scored twice in the second period to give the Stars a comfortable lead. The first was on an assist from Tyler Seguin on the rush. His second came less than six minutes later on a spin move that he finished by going top shelf.
Robertson capped off the hat trick on a power play goal midway through the third period, marking his sixth career hat trick. Roope Hintz assisted on all three of his goals.
The Stars now have power play goals in eight consecutive games.
Thursday’s game in Montreal and Saturday’s are Robertson’s first two multi-goal games of the season.
The 26-year-old forward is now scoring above a point-per-game pace and ranks second in the team in points with 23 (nine goals and 14 assists), trailing only Mikko Rantanen. That’s important because in a contract year, Robertson is pushing for a deal close to Rantanen’s $12 million AAV.
The Stars’ first goal came from defenseman Lian Bichsel just 3:48 into the contest. Bichsel, who has struggled early this season especially staying out of the box, had his best game of the year in Montreal Thursday, according to Stars’ head coach Glen Gulutzan. He followed it up by scoring his first goal of the year on a wrist shot from the point to give his team an early lead.
Seguin added a fifth goal for the Stars late in the third period.
The Stars also played a strong defensive game. Dallas allowed just three Philadelphia shots on goal in the first period. The Flyers scored their lone goal with nine minutes left in the game on a backhand by Christian Dvorak. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger made 20 saves in the win.
“I would say this is probably our most complete game from start to finish of the season,” Gulutzan said.
The Stars were also without defenseman Thomas Harley, who was ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury shortly before puck drop. Kyle Capobianco took his place. Forwards Matt Duchene, Jamie Benn and Adam Erne remain out, as does defenseman Nils Lundkvist.
But through all the injuries, the Stars have continued to collect points and hang close with the division-leading Avalanche.
As long as Robertson keeps scoring multiple goals a night, they should have no trouble keeping that up.
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