Jason Robertson scored his 33rd goal of the season, Jake Oettinger made 34 saves, and the Dallas Stars clinched a playoff berth with a 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
Dallas secured a postseason spot for the fourth straight year and now trails Winnipeg by four points for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Robertson tied the game at 1-1 eight minutes into the opening period, and Roope Hintz followed with a power-play goal late in the first to give Dallas a lead it never relinquished. Mason Marchment added another power-play tally in the third, capping off a clinical offensive showing despite just 21 shots on goal.
The Stars netted two more goals in the final frame, controlling the pace while frustrating the Kraken’s defense.
Seattle jumped early when Eeli Tolvanen scored just 1:27 into the game after a turnover at the blue line, with Jared McCann setting him up in front of the net. The Kraken finished with 35 shots on goal but couldn’t solve Oettinger again.
Game Takeaways
Stars: Dallas reinforced its status as one of the NHL’s top teams, using a physical, methodical approach to wear down opponents. Saturday’s performance further demonstrated their postseason readiness.
Kraken: Despite the scoreline, Seattle remained physical throughout, delivering 17 hits and blocking 21 shots in an effort to match Dallas’ intensity.
Key Moment
A high-sticking penalty on Seattle’s Brandon Montour just 14 seconds into the third period led to Marchment’s power-play goal, extending Dallas’ lead and deflating the Kraken’s momentum.
Key Stat
Dallas dominated the faceoff circle, winning 55% of draws compared to Seattle’s 44%, further asserting control in key moments.
Up Next
The Stars and Kraken will face off again Monday night in Seattle to close out the two-game series.
