Dallas, TX – In a decisive home opener on Monday night, the Dallas Stars earned their first win of the 2026‑27 NHL season, blanking the visiting San Jose Sharks 5-0. The victory was anchored by veteran goaltender Jake Oettinger, who stopped all 14 shots he faced and logged his 17th career shutout.
Key moments and scoring summary
Stars forward Jamie Benn opened the scoring and added an assist, setting the tone early. Miro Heiskanen contributed a backhand goal with 1:09 left in the first period, a strike that proved to be the game‑winner. The scoring barrage continued as Joel Kiviranta, Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen each found the back of the net, completing a five‑goal onslaught.
San Jose’s netminder Yaroslav Askarov made 21 saves, but the Sharks were unable to generate enough offense to threaten the Stars’ lead. The Sharks entered the contest without their newly‑named captain, Macklin Celebrini, who was scratched shortly before tip‑off due to a lower‑body injury. Celebrini participated in warm‑ups but left the ice early, a disappointment for the San Jose fan base.
Celebrini’s injury and recent contract
Celebrini, the 20‑year‑old center who signed a five‑year, $94 million extension over the summer, was expected to be a focal point for the Sharks. His absence was felt on the ice, though former Stars forward Ty Dellandrea made his season debut in Celebrini’s place, providing depth for the Sharks’ forward group.
Looking ahead
Both clubs have upcoming road trips. The Sharks travel to St. Louis to face the Blues on Thursday, while the Stars head to Buffalo for a Thursday matchup against the Sabres. Dallas will look to build on Oettinger’s stellar performance as they seek to establish momentum early in the season.
Fans in Dallas can catch the Stars’ next game at the American Airlines Center, where the team hopes to continue its strong start and climb the Western Conference standings.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
