In a decisive early‑season matchup, the Dallas Stars secured a 5‑0 victory over the San Jose Sharks, marking the Stars’ first win of the 2026‑27 NHL campaign. The game, played on Monday night, featured a strong offensive showing from Dallas and a defensive collapse by the Sharks.
Key moments and scoring summary
Jamie Benn opened the scoring for Dallas, finding the back of the net early in the first period. Jason Robertson added an assist on that goal and later contributed his own assist, helping to build momentum for the Stars.
Miro Heiskanen, the Stars’ standout defenseman, netted his second goal of the season, extending Dallas’ lead. Joel Kiviranta and Mikko Rantanen each added a goal, while Roope Hintz supplied two assists, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
Sharks hampered by injury
Just before the opening face‑off, the Sharks announced that their 20‑year‑old captain, Macklin Celebrini, would not play due to a lower‑body injury. Celebrini, who had recorded five assists in the team’s first two victories, was forced to sit out after participating in pre‑game warm‑ups.
San Jose’s goaltender Yaroslav Askarov faced 21 shots and made all of them, earning his second consecutive shutout. Despite his solid performance, the Sharks were unable to generate enough offense to overcome the early deficit.
Goalie showdown
Dallas veteran Jake Oettinger was flawless between the pipes, stopping all 13 shots he faced for his 17th career shutout. His steady presence gave the Stars confidence to press forward and maintain control throughout the game.
Other NHL action
In other league matchups, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3‑2, with Ilya Mikheyev scoring a late goal and an empty‑netter by Brandon Hagel sealing the win. Ottawa Senators routed the Boston Bruins 4‑1, highlighted by a two‑goal burst from Tim Stutzle in the first period.
Winnipeg Jets edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 3‑2, thanks to a third‑period surge that included a goal and an assist from Alex Iafallo. The Jets’ new backup goalie, Clay Stevenson, made 30 saves in his debut after being claimed off waivers.
Overall, the opening weekend of NHL action showcased strong performances from several teams and highlighted the impact of injuries on roster decisions, as seen with Celebrini’s absence for San Jose.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
