Wyatt Johnston’s Hat Trick Powers Stars Past Senators in Statement Win
The Dallas Stars are heating up, and Sunday night’s 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators was another strong reminder of just how dangerous this team can be when everything clicks. Led by Wyatt Johnston’s first career hat trick and a standout three-assist performance from Mikko Rantanen, the Stars extended their win streak and turned in what head coach Glen Gulutzan called their “most complete game of the year.”
Let’s break down how it all unfolded - and why this win might be more than just another two points in the standings.
A Quiet Start, Then the Floodgates Open
The first period was a chess match - tight, defensive, and without a goal to show for it. But the second period? That’s where the Stars flipped the switch.
It started less than two minutes in, when Mavrik Bourque lit the lamp in his 100th NHL game. The goal - his fourth of the season - came off a crisp setup from Ilya Lyubushkin and Oskar Bäck. It was a milestone moment for the young forward, and it opened the door for what would become a relentless Dallas offensive push.
Ottawa answered quickly, with Jake Sanderson slipping a shot five-hole on Casey DeSmith to even things up. But that tie didn’t last long. Jason Robertson, who’s been on a scoring tear lately, responded with an unassisted goal just 48 seconds later - his 16th of the season - and Dallas never looked back.
Johnston Takes Over
Wyatt Johnston has been solid all season, but Sunday night he took center stage. His first goal came off a slick behind-the-net feed from Rantanen, and Johnston wasted no time snapping it past Linus Ullmark on the glove side. That made it 3-1 Dallas and gave Johnston his 14th of the season.
“He’s just an awesome player,” Johnston said of Rantanen postgame. “He sees the ice so well… Not many guys can see plays that he sees.
I try to be ready to shoot at all times, like that first one. Just an awesome play by him.”
It was the beginning of a night to remember for Johnston, who’s quickly becoming one of the most lethal weapons on the Stars’ power play.
Stars Dominate Special Teams
The third period kicked off with a flurry of penalties, but Dallas didn’t blink. After Miro Heiskanen was called for holding, Sam Steel drew a tripping penalty just as the Senators’ power play expired, setting up a 4-on-4 followed by a Stars man advantage.
And Johnston made them pay - again. With Rantanen once more pulling the strings, Johnston buried his second of the night and his league-leading 12th power play goal of the season. His ability to find space and finish in tight areas is becoming a defining trait of his game.
Jamie Benn added another shortly after, with Rantanen picking up his third assist of the game, and just like that, Dallas had a 5-1 lead.
Physicality, Frustration, and the Finishing Touch
With the game slipping away, Ottawa’s frustration started to boil over. A hard hit from Dylan Cozens on Roope Hintz led to a brief scuffle, with both players ending up on the ice and both teams picking up roughing penalties. The Senators were handed a double minor, but Dallas didn’t capitalize on that opportunity.
They didn’t need to.
Minutes later, Rantanen drew a tripping penalty from Michael Amadio, and Johnston stepped up to complete the hat trick. Another power play, another goal - and a shower of hats rained down from the home crowd.
“He doesn’t need many chances on power plays,” Rantanen said of Johnston. “He had two chances, two goals.
He’s very good in tight areas and he can shoot the puck. Really important in our power play.”
That’s 15 goals on the season now for Johnston - and 13 of them have come either at even strength or on the man advantage. That kind of versatility is what makes him such a valuable piece in Dallas’ top six.
A Setback - and a Silver Lining
Not everything went smoothly for the Stars. Late in the second period, defenseman Lian Bischel went hard into the boards and had to be helped off the ice. He was unable to put much weight on his left leg, and while the extent of the injury isn’t yet known, Gulutzan said the team will evaluate him further on Monday.
Still, the coach was effusive in his praise for the team’s effort across the board.
“The big four,” Gulutzan said. “Goaltending was great.
PP was great. The PK was real solid.
I thought our five-on-five play was probably the best of the year defensively. When you get those four things all working, it’s hard to beat.”
What’s Next
With their confidence riding high, the Stars now head east for a tough back-to-back: first against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, then the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. It’s a challenging stretch, but if Sunday night was any indication, this Dallas team is starting to find its rhythm - and that should have the rest of the league on alert.
If Johnston keeps firing, Rantanen keeps dealing, and the special teams stay sharp, the Stars could be poised for a serious December run.