The Dallas Stars delivered a dominant performance on Monday night, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-1. Miro Heiskanen led the charge, scoring two of the Stars’ six first-period goals. Mason Marchment played a key role, adding a goal and four assists, while Matt Duchene contributed a goal and two assists. The six goals in the first period marked the second time in franchise history that the Stars achieved such a feat, with the first occurring in March 1971 when they were the Minnesota North Stars. Logan Stankoven, Tyler Seguin, and Marchment also found the net during the fast start.
Dallas’ offensive explosion in the opening frame was unprecedented for Pittsburgh, who allowed six goals in the first period of a home game for the first time. The Stars capitalized on the Penguins’ defensive struggles, scoring all six goals within a 16-minute span. Wyatt Johnston added a power-play goal in the third period to complete the 7-1 victory. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was solid in the net, stopping 20 of 21 shots. Brendan Smith, in his 700th NHL game, contributed two assists to the win.
Pittsburgh struggled throughout the game, with goaltender Joel Blomqvist getting pulled after allowing three goals on just eight shots. Alex Nedeljkovic replaced him but was unable to stem the tide, allowing goals on the first two shots he faced. The Penguins’ lone goal came from Anthony Beauvillier, who scored his fourth of the season. This loss added to Pittsburgh’s recent struggles, as they had lost three of their last four games and nine of their last 12, despite a strong performance in their previous game, a 4-2 win over Washington.
The defeat highlighted Pittsburgh’s defensive issues, which were evident in a similar loss to Carolina just days earlier. The Penguins’ lackluster play left them unable to keep up with the Stars’ relentless offensive attack. The loss was a significant setback for a team trying to regain consistency after a rough stretch of performances. Pittsburgh’s defensive collapse was reminiscent of past struggles this season, contributing to their ongoing issues in both offense and defense.
The Stars, on the other hand, rebounded impressively after a 4-1 loss to Winnipeg just two days earlier. They had struggled offensively in recent games, scoring just six goals in their previous three matches combined. However, Monday night’s victory showcased their offensive depth, as Marchment tied a franchise record with four points in a single period. Looking ahead, the Stars will look to carry their momentum into their next game against Boston, while the Penguins will aim to bounce back when they host Detroit on Wednesday.
