The Dallas Stars’ top line finally found its groove, erupting for three goals in their last game after a season-long slump. Now, the big question heading into Saturday’s showdown with the Tampa Bay Lightning is whether that spark was a flash in the pan or the start of a full-on wildfire. The Stars’ top trio will look to keep its momentum rolling against one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders.
How to watch: You can watch the puck drop at 6 p.m. from Amalie Arena in Tampa on Victory+. As always, catch the radio call on The Ticket.
Jason Robertson led the way for the Stars on Wednesday night in a 5-2 win over the Sharks. Breaking out of a nine-game goal drought, Robertson keyed the top-line attack with a goal and two assists.
Robo’s other linemates, Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston, each scored as the top line finally looked like, well, the top line. Stars coach Pete DeBoer has tried several different players on top line with Robertson and Hintz. Johnston being the most recent addition and probably makes the most sense.
Robertson, who has been a point-per-game player during his six-year career, missed training camp this season after having a cyst removed from his foot – not easy to overcome if you wear skates for a living. Robertson, known for his sniper-like shooting, scored in the second period on Wednesday off a snipe-of-a-shot from the left circle and nearly added another goal in the third on a power play shot that clanged off the post.
Spinorama 🌀 pic.twitter.com/6kEMg2kymt
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 21, 2024
Johnston scored in the second period Wednesday on a fine set up from Hintz, who was set up by Robertson. If the top line can rediscover its scoring touch, it would provide a major boost and complement the already productive second line of Mason Marchment, Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene, who have contributed more than a third of the Stars’ goals this season.
However, scoring might be hard to come by Saturday as the Stars face one of the league’s best in net.
Vasilevskiy makes history
If the Stars hope to build on their recent offensive surge, they’ll need to find a way past Tampa Bay netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Last week, Vasilevskiy became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach 300 wins, achieving that mark in a 4-1 win over Winnipeg on Nov. 14. It took the former first-round pick only 490 games to reach his 300th win.
Vasilevskiy has established himself as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He was the backbone of the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2020 (against the Stars!) and 2021 and their third consecutive Final appearance in 2022.
In 20 career regular season games against Dallas, Vasilevskiy has a record of 14-3-3 with a goals against average of 1.92 and a save percentage of .931.
Nobody in NHL history reached 300 wins faster than Andrei Vasilevskiy. 🦁
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) November 15, 2024
Another milestone for the future Hall of Famer! pic.twitter.com/HUWYnrJUEE
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Wyatt Johnston (53)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Jamie Benn (14) – Mavrik Bourque (22) – Logan Stankoven (11)
Oskar Bäck (10) – Sam Steel (18) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Miro Heiskanen (4) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)
Thomas Harley (55) – Matt Dumba (46)
Esa Lindell (23) – Nils Lundqvist (5)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Casey DeSmith (1)
Lineup notes: Three Dallas Stars defensemen suffered injuries on Wednesday against the Sharks. Nils Lundkvist left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return. Ilya Lyubushkin and Thomas Harley also suffered injuries but were able to return to the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning Lineup
Brandon Hagel (38) – Anthony Cirelli (71) – Nikita Kucherov (86)
Jake Guentzel (59) – Brayden Point (21) – Gage Goncalves (93)
Cam Atkinson (13) – Conor Geekie (14) – Mitchell Chaffee (41)
Zemgus Girgensons (28) – Luke Glendening (11) – Michael Eyssimont (23)
Victor Hedman (77) – J.J. Moser (90)
Ryan McDonagh (27) – Erik Cernak (81)
Emil Lilleberg (78) – Nick Perbix (48)
Andrei Vasilevskiy (88)
Jonas Johansson (31)
Things to watch
Tyler Seguin
Seguin should have had several goals this week against Anaheim and San Jose but had multiple shots ring off the iron. He’s getting plenty of chances playing with Marchment and Duchene – the Stars’ most productive unit. Look for this line to make some noise Saturday.
Brayden Point
Point has scored goals in eight of his last 10 games, including four straight. The Lightning centerman returned from a four game absence on Tuesday to score a pair of goals, including the overtime winner, in a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh.