The Dallas Stars defeated the visiting Edmonton Oilers 5-0 on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to a team-record eight games. Jake Oettinger made 35 saves while Radek Faksa had a goal and two assists.
Dallas is leading the Western Conference with 48-19-9, 105 points, but they are still one point behind the New York Rangers in the Presidents’ Trophy race.
The Stars’ impressive 8-0-0 run has seen them outscore opponents 34-11. The team has won six straight seven-game runs in the past, five of which have been since coming to Dallas.
Craig Smith recorded two assists, while Wyatt Johnston and Sam Steel each scored a goal and an assist. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn netted the other goals for the Stars.
Oettinger achieved his second shutout in a row. In Dallas’ previous game, a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, he made 17 saves.
Edmonton (45-24-5, 95 points) lost an opportunity to solidify their playoff standing as the Pacific Division’s second-best team. The Oilers’ winning run of four games (3-0-1) came to an end in the regulation loss.
Despite near-miss opportunities from Cody Ceci, Corey Perry, and Leon Draisaitl hitting goalposts, the Oilers were shut out for the third time this season.
Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard performed admirably in spite of multiple defensive lapses, stopping 27 of 32 shots.
At 2:08 of the first quarter, Faksa put in his own rebound to give Dallas an early lead. Before the Stars broke things open late in the second period, it appeared as though the game would be close. However, it was the lone goal.
Miro Heiskanen made a fantastic pass in front of Edmonton’s net at 13:16 of the second, and Seguin finished the play with a power-play goal.
At 16:27 in the frame, an Oilers power play ended, setting up a four-on-one rush for the Stars. As he was coming out of the penalty box, Johnston became the fourth man and completed the passing play to score his 30th goal overall for the team.
Dallas persisted in applying pressure, forcing two errors in the last 1:18 before the second half, deep in the Oilers’ zone. The winners were Benn and Steel, who scored goals in a 22-second window.
