DALLAS — In an exciting matchup on Wednesday night, Nicholas Robertson made a significant impact against his older brother’s team, scoring the pivotal goal and adding an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the Dallas Stars, finishing the game 5-3. William Nylander also contributed to the victory by netting two goals, showcasing the offensive strength of the Maple Leafs.

Joseph Woll was critical in goal for Toronto, stopping 38 shots, helping maintain their position at the top of the Atlantic Division as they secured their fourth win in the past five games. Robertson’s unassisted goal at 5:31 into the second period put the Maple Leafs ahead 3-2, just 16 seconds after Nylander’s first goal had equalized the score. Later, Robertson also assisted on Bobby McMann’s goal when Jason Robertson was on the ice for the Stars, further solidifying his performance.

McMann’s goal marked the fourth scored by Toronto from just eight shots taken against Jake Oettinger, who faced his second loss in 14 home starts this season on the occasion of his 26th birthday. Oettinger was later substituted by Casey DeSmith at the start of the third period.

On the Stars’ side, Evgenii Dadonov and Sam Steel managed to score, with Steel opening the game’s scoring just 5:14 into the first period. His shot found its way past Woll’s right shoulder, giving Dallas an early lead, but Max Domi quickly tied the game for Toronto just under a minute later.

Some noteworthy points to consider include Woll’s improvement this season, boasting a 9-4 record in 13 games, compared to his 12-11 record in 23 matches from the previous season. Additionally, Jamie Benn achieved a milestone by playing in his 1,143rd career game, surpassing Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano in games played for the Stars franchise since their relocation to Dallas in 1993. However, Modano still holds the franchise record with 1,459 games played, 317 of which were during the team’s time in Minnesota.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Nylander scored his 20th goal of the season with an empty-netter 1:43 remaining, following Colin Blackwell’s goal for Dallas just 33 seconds earlier while they had an extra attacker on the ice.

Another critical detail from the game was the Stars’ struggle on special teams, failing to convert on four power play opportunities.

Looking ahead, the Maple Leafs are set to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, while the Stars will conclude their season-long six-game homestand against the New York Rangers the same day.