Wyatt Johnston's Hat Trick Powers Stars Past Senators

Wyatt Johnston's hat trick powered the Dallas Stars to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators at the American Airlines Center on Sunday night, October 29th. The Stars extended their win streak to four games.

The first period saw both teams remain scoreless, setting the stage for a thrilling second period. Just under two minutes in, Mavrik Bourque opened the scoring, netting his fourth goal of the season after receiving assists from Ilya Lyubushkin and Oskar Back in his 100th NHL game.

Ottawa quickly responded with a goal from defenseman Jake Sanderson, who found the back of the net with a five-hole shot on Dallas goalie Casey DeSmith. However, Dallas regained the lead when Jason Robertson scored an unassisted goal, marking his 16th of the season within a minute of Sanderson's goal.

The Stars faced a penalty when Kyle Capobianco was sent to the box for interference, but their defense held strong, maintaining a 2-1 lead. Johnston then scored his first goal of the night, making it 3-1 with an assist from Mikko Rantanen, showcasing his impressive shooting skills.

Despite a concerning injury to defenseman Lian Bischel, who had to be helped off the ice, head coach Glen Gulutzan expressed confidence in his team’s performance, highlighting their solid goaltending and special teams play.

The third period began with multiple penalties, including one for Miro Heiskanen for holding. Johnston took full advantage of a power play opportunity, netting his second goal of the game, again assisted by Rantanen.

Shortly after, Jamie Benn added to the score, extending the lead to 5-1. Tensions flared as a hit by Ottawa's Dylan Cozens on Roope Hintz led to a scuffle, resulting in a double minor for roughing against Ottawa.

Despite not scoring during that power play, Johnston capitalized shortly after, completing his hat trick and marking his first of the season, with another assist from Rantanen. Johnston's performance highlighted his scoring prowess, and he now leads the league with 12 power play goals.

The game concluded with a final score of 6-1, and Johnston received a warm ovation as fans threw hats onto the ice in celebration. The Stars are set to face the New York Rangers on Tuesday night and the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, both at 6 p.m.

CT. According to the report from Defending Big D, this victory not only showcases Johnston's talent but also solidifies the Stars' position as a formidable contender this season.