Wyatt Johnston’s Hat Trick Fuels Stars’ Rout of Senators, Bolsters Olympic Hopes
Wyatt Johnston isn’t just heating up - he’s forcing his way into the Olympic conversation with performances that demand attention.
On Sunday night in Dallas, Johnston delivered his fourth career NHL hat trick, scoring twice on the power play and finishing with a four-point night to lead the Stars to a dominant 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. It was his second four-point outing in less than a week, and with 12 power-play goals on the season - the most in the league - he’s making a serious case to wear the Maple Leaf in February.
The 20-year-old forward has been a force lately, and his timing couldn’t be better. With Olympic rosters looming and Canada always deep up front, Johnston is doing what he can to separate himself from the pack. Only six Canadian skaters have more points than him right now, and his ability to produce in key moments - especially on the man advantage - is turning heads.
“I’m just trying to help the Stars win,” Johnston said recently. “If that helps my chances of making the Olympic team, that would be amazing. It’d be a huge honour.”
He’s not the only Star shining. Jason Robertson marked his 400th NHL game with a goal and two assists, including the game-winner. That gives him points in 10 of his last 11 games - 13 goals and nine assists over that stretch - and he now shares the team lead in goals with Johnston at 16, tied for fourth across the NHL.
Mavrik Bourque and Jamie Benn also found the back of the net for Dallas, who are now 10-1-1 in their last 12 games. This team is rolling, and they’re doing it with depth, structure, and a power play that’s humming.
Meanwhile, it was another tough night for the Senators, who have now dropped two straight and continue to struggle to close out games. Jake Sanderson scored Ottawa’s lone goal, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep pace with a Stars team firing on all cylinders.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark, who had been trending in the right direction after a rocky start to the season, took a step back statistically, giving up six goals on 26 shots. But this wasn’t all on him. The Sens gave up too many high-danger chances, leaving Dallas forwards open in prime scoring areas - a recipe for disaster against a team this dangerous.
It’s the second straight game where Ottawa has faltered in the third period. Down 3-1 heading into the final frame, they simply didn’t have a response. Whether it’s fatigue, execution, or something deeper, the Sens haven’t been able to finish strong - and it’s costing them.
The loss drops Ottawa to 12-9-4 on the season and 3-3 on their current road trip. While they did finish November above .500 (6-4-3) for the first time since 2016-17, the last two outings - including Friday’s stumble in St. Louis - have taken some shine off that progress.
There’s one more stop on this road trip, a short trip to Montreal on Tuesday. It’s a big one - not just for the standings, but for the team’s confidence heading into December. The Senators are still hovering around the playoff bubble, but if they want to stay in the mix, they’ll need to tighten things up defensively and find a way to close out games.
On the other side, Dallas looks every bit like a contender. With Johnston and Robertson leading the charge, and contributions coming from all over the lineup, the Stars are showing why they’re one of the most complete teams in the league right now. If Johnston keeps playing like this, don’t be surprised if he’s suiting up for Team Canada in February.