Joe Pavelski scored twice and added two assists as the Dallas Stars extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Roope Hintz scored for the fourth consecutive game, and rookie Jacob Peterson netted his eighth goal as Dallas swept its four-game road trip. Braden Holtby made 36 saves, improving his career record against New Jersey to 18-4-3.
“It was a solid team effort,” Pavelski said, who also assisted Jani Hakanpaa’s empty-net goal late in the third period. “We had contributions from all lines, and timely goals are crucial for continued success.”
The Stars’ winning streak has them firmly in the playoff hunt as they approach the season’s midpoint.
“It was a great win. Back-to-backs are always tough, especially when the other team is waiting for you,” coach Rick Bowness said. “New Jersey has a lot of speed and skill. I’m proud of how our guys dug in tonight.”
Jesper Bratt scored his fourth goal in three games for New Jersey, which has lost five of its last six games.
“Their strength is keeping the puck out of dangerous areas. They forced us into mistakes,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “We made a few errors right off the bat.”
The Devils’ starting goaltender, Mackenzie Blackwood, was placed on injured reserve earlier in the day with a heel injury. Rookie Akira Schmid got the start after being recalled from Utica (AHL).
Pavelski extended his point streak to six games, scoring just 14 seconds into the game with the first shot.
Jason Robertson battled Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler behind the net and set up Pavelski for a quick shot that beat the screened Schmid.
Peterson made it 2-0 at 9:45, finishing a pass from Alexander Radulov.
Pavelski capped the first period with his second goal, tipping Miro Heiskanen’s shot past Schmid at 16:48 for his 19th goal.
Ruff swapped goalies after Schmid allowed three goals on seven shots in the first period. Jon Gillies replaced him, but the move backfired when Hintz scored 15 seconds into the second period, making it 4-0.
Bratt, assisted by Jack Hughes, ended Holtby’s shutout bid with his 14th goal. The Devils have now scored a power-play goal in five consecutive games.
“At different points, we played decently, but overall, they outplayed us,” Devils defenseman Damon Severson said. “It was not a fun game for us.”
FOR THE AGES
The 37-year-old Pavelski has five two-goal games this season and leads the Stars with 48 points. He has five career regular-season hat tricks, all with the San Jose Sharks, and one postseason hat trick with the Stars in 2020 against Calgary.
“I keep telling people this is not a fluke,” Bowness said. “He works at it. He’s always the first guy out there on the ice. He’s a true pro, character, and teammate.”
UP NEXT
- Stars: Host the Washington Capitals on Friday to begin a six-game homestand. Dallas is 14-4-1 at the American Airlines Center.
- Devils: The Devils will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday to start a three-game road trip. New Jersey is 5-11-2 away from the Prudential Center.
