Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson (21) scores against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) and defenseman Jake McCabe (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)Lm Otero/The Associated Press
Jason Robertson scored his first goal in 10 career games against Toronto, the last team he had not scored against, and Jake Oettinger made 27 saves for his 16th win as the Dallas Stars beat the Maple Leafs 5-1 on Sunday night.
Sam Steel’s score early in the third period was the winning goal for the Stars, who have won four consecutive games. Jamie Benn, Mavrik Bourque and Justin Hryckowian also scored for Dallas.
Scott Laughton scored for the Leafs, who head home following an 0-3-0 road trip, the last two losses in back-to-back games.
Robertson gave Dallas a 1-0 lead late in the first period with his 23rd goal, tied for third in the league.
Oettinger is tied for the most goaltender wins in the NHL and earned his first assist this season on Bourque’s empty-net goal.
Dennis Hildeby stopped 16 shots for the Leafs, with No. 1 goalie Joseph Woll playing Saturday night in the 5-3 loss at Nashville.
Oettinger thwarted Toronto’s best early scoring chance midway through the first period after Auston Matthews poked the puck away from Thomas Harley just inside the Stars’ blue line and skated in alone. Matthews shot high glove side, and Oettinger made a swiping save.
The Leafs had three serious scoring threats in the closing seconds of the second period following another Stars turnover near their net. Oettinger stopped shots by Troy Stecher and Laughton from close range, and then Simon Benoit’s attempt was blocked by Harley.
It was Dallas’ first home win against Toronto since Jan. 31, 2017, snapping an 0-6-1 streak.
It was Robertson’s first win in six games in which his younger brother, Nick, has played for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto’s league-worst power play went 0 for 4, falling to 12 for 90 (13.3 per cent).
Up next
Maple Leafs: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Stars: Take an NHL-best 13-2-4 road record to Detroit on Tuesday.
– The Associated Press
Senators pick up fourth straight win, downing Bruins
Fabian Zetterlund scored two goals, Tim Stützle and Dylan Cozens scored 19 seconds apart in the second period and the Ottawa Senators beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Sunday night for their fourth straight victory.
Drake Batherson and Claude Giroux each had a goal in the first when the Senators opened a quick 3-0 edge. Batherson and Cozens each had two assists and former Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark made 17 saves in a game that ended with a few late scraps.
Bruins starting goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was pulled after giving up five goals on 17 shots. Jeremy Swayman replaced him and finished with 10 saves. It was Boston’s second loss at home in two days after falling in a shootout against Vancouver.
David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy scored for the Bruins.
Playing a day after rallying to beat Chicago at home, the Senators built their 3-0 lead in the opening 16:47.
After Pastrnak’s power-play goal late in the first period, Ottawa pushed to 5-1 just seven minutes into the second the two quick scores from Stutzle and Cozens. Boston coach Marco Sturm then lifted Korpisalo.
The Bruins were 8-1-1 following a loss their previous 10 times.
Stützle outhustled Pavel Zacha in front before pushing the puck into the net to make it 4-1 and Cozens scored on a shot from the right point.
In the opening period, Batherson fired a wrister from the slot that Korpisalo seemed to miss trying to make a glove save just 90 seconds into the game.
Batherson outworked Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke, battling for a loose puck in front of the crease before kicking it over to Giroux, who pushed it into the net with 6:16 left in the first.
Zetterlund then scored on a shot that didn’t seem to have much of an opening before slipping between Korpisalo’s right arm and the near post with 3:13 left in the period.
Skating with a two-man advantage, Pastrnak’s one-timer beat Ullmark with 53 seconds to go in the first,
Up Next
Senators: Host Buffalo Tuesday night.
Bruins: Face Montreal Tuesday to close a five-game homestand.
– The Associated Press