Approaching the end of July means this long offseason is halfway over. Fans look back on the previous season for entertainment before next year starts. Plenty of memorable games fill the replay bank for the Dallas Stars last season. Playoff heroics mixed in with riveting regular season games add to the list of incredible games from the 2024-2025 Stars.
Regular Season: Rangers
Riding a hot streak into 2025 allowed them to maintain pace in the division race. The first game of a long road trip that started on January 7th didn’t go too well to begin with. The New York Rangers fired off three quick goals in rapid succession. The resiliency of the Stars allowed for a comeback to win the game in overtime. Jamie Benn secured the overtime victory after overcoming a 3-0 deficit. Duchene, Dadonov, Robertson, and Harley all added their touch to the scoring sheet for a thrilling game at Madison Square Garden.
Sharks
Scoring 8 goals or more in the NHL usually leads to a blowout. The Sharks crowd received a taste of the Stars’ offense when they ended their game in San Jose on February 8th with an 8-3 victory. Like the game above, the Stars surrendered the first two goals before answering with seven straight of their own. Depth scoring came alive in this one as Matt Duchene ended up as the only multiple-goal scorer. This one left a positive ending before heading into the 4 Nations Faceoff.
Revenge in Vegas
Mark Stone is unlikely to make an appearance on any Stars fans’ Christmas list this year. “The hit” on Miro Heiskanen knocked him out for the season until the series against the Jets. Winning this one came as a bittersweet finish until they publicized Heiskanen’s injury extent. Wyatt Johnston recorded a natural hat trick, including the overtime-winner.
Playoffs: Avalanche Game 2
Starting the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a losing note allowed doubt to settle in. The Stars ended the regular season with seven straight losses, adding salt to the wound in a Game 1 loss versus the Colorado Avalanche. The difference between a win and a loss in this game meant not only elimination but the desolation of hope. Going down 0-2 before heading to Colorado meant the odds are against them. Many lead changes and game-tying goals found this game in overtime, where Colin Blackwell arguably saved the season with a clutch overtime-winner.
Avalanche: Game 7
Any and all doubts about Mikko Rantanen ended in the third period of Game 7. A 2-0 Avalanche lead in the third period meant the death of hope until the Rantanen show started. His epic two goals tied the game then Wyatt Johnston’s powerplay tally erupted the American Airlines Center. Rantanen sealed the deal with an empty-netter in the dying seconds to secure the hat trick. Rantanen recorded an astonishing 11 points in Games 6, 7, and 1 of the following series against the Jets.
Jets: Game 6
Emotions ran high in this game as the Jets wanted to send this series to a Game 7 back in Winnipeg. The Stars wanted to avoid that outcome after two consecutive shutouts in Winnipeg. Sam Steel tied the game at 1-1 before a goaltender duel ensued between the United States National Team tandem. Thomas Harley scored the series-winner in overtime to once again send the Stars to the Western Conference Final.
The season didn’t end how they wanted, but all these happy memories are stepping stones to build on. This team is a promising one with only a matter of time until this list holds several more games.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars X
Tags: dallas stars jamie benn Jason Robertson Matt Duchene Mikko Rantanen Miro Heiskanen nhl Roope Hintz Thomas Harley
Categorized:Stars