A third-period Kings powerplay goal sank the Stars 3-2 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, snapping Dallas’ four-game winning streak.
Adrian Kempe scored a goal standing in front of Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger almost halfway through the last period. The goal pushed the Kings to the win as the Stars face back-to-back games against Anaheim in Orange County on Wednesday.
Kings netminder Pheonix Copley has won seven straight and stopped 28 shots on his way to eight consecutive dubs on the night. Jake Oettinger faced 35 shots, stopping 32, on the night, but suffered his first loss since losing to Edmonton on December 21.
Roope Hintz had two assists, giving him more than one point for the 12th time in a game. He has scored six goals and assisted on three more in that time.
WHAT TO KNOW
Miro Heiskanen scored for the Stars at 6:31 of the second period with a shot from the blue line that went through a gaggle of players to tie the contest at one. Rasmus Kupari got things going for L.A. with a goal in the first. Hintz and Joe Pavelski both notched assists on the goal.
Anze Kopitar put the Kings back in front, 2-1, two minutes and change after the Stars’ goal. His netter came via a redirect of a Drew Doughty shot on the net.
Robertson tied the score at 2-2 with a wrist shot from the slot after Pavelski slipped him a pass down the middle of the ice. Hintz tallied an assist along with Pavelski.
The loss marks just the fifth time in 25 games that Dallas has failed to gain a point.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Stars drop to 23-10-6 on the season and retain first place in the Western Conference’s Central Division with a three-point lead, 52-49, over Winnipeg (24-13-1). Dallas holds an eight-point edge over third-place Minnesota (21-13-2).
Jason Robertson’s goal gives him points in eight straight games.
Dallas rang in the new year with Pavelski and signed the long-time NHL vet an extension through 2023-24, according to the team. The deal is for a one-year base contract of $3.5 million and an additional $2 million in potential performance bonuses.
WHAT THEY SAID
“Pretty even game through two,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. “I thought I thought were the better team in the third, you know, I think that’s the bottom line. They cranked it up a level in the third, and we’ve typically been a real good third-period team, but they were the better third-period team tonight.”
“Number one, we’re having a lot of fun,” Pavelski, 38, said of why he re-signed with the Stars. “The staff has been great; I really like the hockey. And I think the body feels really good.”
NEXT UP
The Stars complete their West coast road trip in Anaheim on Wednesday starting at 8 p.m. C.T.