DALLAS (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs skated to victory against the Dallas Stars, overpowering them with a final score of 5-3. This win, which marks the team's fourth victory in their last five games, solidified their standing atop the Atlantic Division.
It was Nicholas Robertson who stole the spotlight, scoring the go-ahead goal and assisting on another, all the more remarkable as he was up against his older brother, Jason Robertson, playing for the Stars. Meanwhile, William Nylander scored twice, pushing his season total to 20.
The game kicked off with Dallas's Sam Steel lighting the lamp just 5:14 minutes post-puck drop, giving the Stars the early lead. Toronto didn't take long to respond—Max Domi quickly leveled the score with his own goal just 59 seconds later, showcasing the firepower of both teams.
Toronto's Joseph Woll excelled between the pipes, stopping 38 of Dallas's 41 shots, adding another impressive chapter to his season with this performance and earning praise from teammates and coaching staff alike. “He was standing on his head. He made a couple of huge saves there at the end,” Nylander said of Woll's effort.
Woll's heroics were especially noteworthy following the announcement the day before: fellow goalie Anthony Stolarz will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks due to knee surgery. Toronto coach Craig Berube expressed satisfaction with Woll's performance, noting how it underscored the team’s capability to compete against top-tier opponents.
An important moment of the match came when Toronto's Nylander tied the game at 2-2 early in the second period, shortly followed by Robertson's unassisted goal at 5:31, putting the Leafs ahead for the first time. Robertson's goal followed Nylander's equalizer against Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, who was fighting to maintain his stellar record at home.
The Stars fought hard to regain control, but any hope of leveling the match again dissipated when Bobby McMann added Toronto's fourth goal, making it 4-2 before Dallas's Colin Blackwell cut the deficit late with his backdoor goal after the Stars pulled their goalie for the extra attacker.
Nylander sealed the victory with his empty-netter at 18:17, capping off his performance on his own birthday. The game on Wednesday night was also significant for Jamie Benn, who played his 1,143rd career game, surpassing the legendary Mike Modano for the most games played by any player since the franchise moved to Dallas.
Post-game, Maple Leafs' players reflected on their performance, recognizing areas for improvement yet celebrating their ability to capitalize on key scoring opportunities. “I think we did a real good job capitalizing on our chances,” Woll noted, emphasizing the team’s commitment to tightening their defense after gaining the lead.
Despite the loss, Dallas can find solace in the performance of players like Evgenii Dadonov, who notched one goal and one assist. Stars coach Pete DeBoer expressed optimism about his team’s potential moving forward, pointing out the importance of learning from setbacks like this one.
The matchup delivered plenty of excitement, highlighting both teams' strengths and weaknesses. Toronto is set to carry this momentum as they face off against the Buffalo Sabres next, aiming to secure another victory on the road. Meanwhile, the Stars will look to regroup and finish their season-long six-game homestand against the New York Rangers.
