EDMONTON, Alberta — The Dallas Stars triumphed 4-3 over the depleted Edmonton Oilers, thanks to a spectacular natural hat trick by Jason Robertson during the second period of Wednesday night’s game.
The Oilers faced significant challenges with key players missing; Connor McDavid sat out due to a lower-body injury, and Leon Draisaitl was unavailable with an undisclosed issue. Adding to their woes, goaltender Stuart Skinner had to leave the game after a collision with Mikko Rantanen resulted in a hit to his head during the third period.
Robertson’s performance was outstanding as he achieved his second hat trick of the season and the fifth of his NHL career. Wyatt Johnston also contributed to Dallas’s offensive surge, scoring a goal, leading the team to a commanding 4-0 advantage. Roope Hintz assisted on all three of Robertson’s goals, and Jake Oettinger was exceptional in goal with 42 saves. Dallas’s recent form has been impressive, going 4-0-2 in the last six matchups.
Edmonton mounted a comeback attempt with goals from Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, and Zach Hyman, especially after Skinner’s departure led to Calvin Pickard stepping in as the goalie. However, this effort fell short.
A standout performance for the Stars came from defenseman Thomas Harley, who has been stepping up in the absence of top defender Miro Heiskanen, sidelined by a knee injury. Harley, selected 18th overall in the 2019 draft, has notched four goals and accumulated ten points over his last nine games, including two assists in Wednesday’s game, equalling his career-best 47 points.
The Oilers faced further injury concerns during the second period. Zach Hyman suffered an awkward collision with Dallas winger Mason Marchment but ultimately returned to finish the game after heading to the dressing room. Similarly, top defenseman Evan Bouchard was forced to leave the ice temporarily after blocking a shot but also returned to play.
A key moment came when Robertson tipped in a shot from Harley, securing a power-play goal and making it 4-0. This marked Robertson’s third goal of the evening and his 32nd of the season, solidifying his status as the team’s leading scorer.
The Dallas Stars hold a remarkable distinction this season, boasting five players who have scored 25 or more goals: Robertson, Matt Duchene, Hintz, Johnston, and Rantanen.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play back-to-back games on Thursday night. The Oilers will face off against the Seattle team, while the Stars head to Calgary.