Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots to secure a win in the battle of backup goaltenders, while defenseman Thomas Harley contributed a goal and an assist as the Dallas Stars triumphed over the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Saturday night.
Wedgewood’s stellar performance bested David Rittich in the net, marking his second victory over the Kings in just eight days. Craig Smith, Wyatt Johnston, and Jamie Benn also found the back of the net for the Stars, who surged to a 3-0 lead in the first period, averting a third consecutive regulation loss for the first time since April 2022.
The win came on the heels of a disappointing 6-2 defeat to New Jersey at home on Thursday, coinciding with the unveiling of a statue honoring Mike Modano, the Stars’ all-time leader in goals and points, during the first intermission.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer praised the team’s solid performance, crediting the electric energy in the arena for their strong start. Wedgewood’s standout performance came after All-Star goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled early in the second period of Thursday’s loss, with the team eager to bounce back.
Rittich, with a career-best 2.19 goals-against average, made 25 saves for the Kings, who split a road back-to-back after a 5-0 victory over Chicago the previous night. Despite Kevin Fiala’s lone goal against Wedgewood, the Kings couldn’t overcome the Stars’ offensive onslaught.
Harley opened the scoring early in the game with a high wrist shot that ricocheted off the glass, bounced back over the net, and found its way past Rittich’s left arm. Smith extended the lead with a long-range wrist shot, while Johnston capitalized on a 3-on-2 break to add to the Stars’ tally. Benn sealed the victory with a power-play goal early in the second period.
Fiala managed to break the shutout bid early in the third period, but it wasn’t enough to spark a Kings comeback. Under interim coach Jim Hiller, who took over during the All-Star break, the Kings have posted an 11-7-1 record.
