DALLAS — In their return from Finland, the Dallas Stars secured a 3-1 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. Sam Steel contributed significantly to the win, netting a goal and providing an assist.

Goaltender Jake Oettinger was instrumental for the Stars, stopping 25 shots and only conceding a power-play goal to Tyler Bertuzzi late in the third period. Steel opened the scoring with 8:54 remaining in the first period and later assisted Tyler Seguin, whose shot deflected past Chicago’s Arvid Soderblom. Logan Stankoven sealed the game with an empty-net goal just 46 seconds before the final buzzer.

This matchup marked a rematch for the Stars, who had faced the Blackhawks at home earlier. Their recent trip to Finland saw them lose to the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, in two consecutive games.

Soderblom, making his fourth start for the Blackhawks, managed 37 saves during the game, but his efforts were not enough to overcome Dallas’s offense.

Key observations from the game: The Blackhawks struggled offensively, replicating last month’s loss to Dallas after also playing the night before, managing only five shots in the first period. Meanwhile, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer achieved his 620th career victory, equaling Bryan Murray for 20th place among NHL coaches. Seguin, who missed the second game against the Panthers in Finland, has been in excellent form, tallying four goals and three assists across his last five games.

A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Oettinger showcased his skills, stopping five shots within a mere 10-second span just after Seguin had extended the Stars’ lead to 2-0.

Statistically, the Stars continue to shine on home ice, boasting an undefeated 6-0 record and allowing only six goals while successfully killing all 16 penalties they’ve faced this season.

Looking ahead, the Blackhawks will host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night, while the Stars will travel to Winnipeg for their next game on Saturday.