Jason Robertson kept his scoring streak alive with a first-period goal as the Dallas Stars topped the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday.
Maverick Bourque opened the scoring for the Stars (13-5-3) just 55 seconds into the first period, and Robertson gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at the 7:44 mark of the opening frame.
Colin Blackwell and Mikko Rantanen added goals in the third period, and Jake Oettinger stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced in the Dallas net.
Robertson now has goals in five straight games and points in six (nine goals, four assists), while Rantanen has at least one point in each of his last five appearances (two goals, five assists).
The Canucks (9-11-2) got goals from Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson, and 20 saves from Kevin Lankinen.
Vancouver had a two-man advantage for 80 seconds early in the second period, but couldn’t score. Jake DeBrusk came within inches on a shot from the side of the crease, but Oettinger stopped the puck as it slid under his body and held fast to keep it from crossing the goal line.
Takeaways
Canucks: Came in with the worst penalty kill in the league (67.1 per cent), but weathered the two infractions they faced on the night, despite Dallas possessing the league’s second-best power play (31.9 per cent).
Stars: After allowing two goals on 10 shots in the first period, Oettinger turned away the next 25 he faced to close out the game.
Key moment
Blackwell broke the 2-2 deadlock at the 10:47 mark of the third, picking up the puck at the blue line, skating in alone and ripping a shot past Lankinen for his second goal of the year.
Key stat
Home ice hasn’t been kind to the Canucks this season, with the team going 3-6-1 over its first 10 games in Vancouver.
Up next
Canucks: Host the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
Stars: Visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
