But once they did, the floodgates opened.  

After scoring just one goal in 120 minutes, the Stars (1-2-0) scored three goals in an eight-minute span Monday night en route to a 5-0 win over the San Jose Sharks at American Airlines Center and their first win of the 2026-27 season. 

“We established more zone time, played more direct and forwards and cleaned up our blue line,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “It’s really actually a simple recipe, and it’s good that they got rewarded for it.”

After Miro Heiskanen got Dallas on the board again late in the first period — scoring his second goal of the season when none of his teammates had one yet — three Stars forwards added to that total in a dominant second period.  

Joel Kiviranta scored first, cleaning up a loose puck off a whiffed shot from Oskar Bäck and bouncing it in off San Jose goalie Yaroslav Akarov. Then, Jamie Benn scored off a nifty between-the-legs pass from Jason Robertson. Later in the period, Robertson scored an unassisted goal. Mikko Rantanen added one in the final five minutes of play.

Robertson, Benn and Roope Hintz all posted multi-point games in the win. Robertson, who had recorded just three shots on goal in the first two games, surpassed that with four. He also had the outlet pass to Hintz that led to Heiskanen’s goal and the primary assist on Benn’s in addition to his own goal.  

It was a relatively quiet night on the other end of the ice for Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, who faced just 13 shots, but still posted his first shutout of the season and 17th of his career. Oettinger had his best save in two games on a glove save midway through the second period, robbing Sharks rookie Ivar Stenberg of what would’ve been his first career goal on the power play.  

“It’s not easy to play games like that always for the goalies,” Heiskanen said. “First period, he had maybe three shots against. It’s not easy, but I think he made some big saves too.”

Oettinger did receive a little help, though, when Sharks veteran Tyler Toffoli hit a post on a look at a wide-open net. 

The Sharks were without their star player, 2024 No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini, who was ruled out with a lower-body injury shortly after warmups Monday. 

While the Stars made major strides Monday from their first two performances, they still have some areas to improve. The Stars are still scoreless on the power play, beginning 0 for 8 on the season.