The Dallas Stars secured a vital 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center on January 23, 2026, thanks to a late goal from Jason Robertson. This win was essential for Dallas, who have struggled recently, managing only four wins in their last 15 games. The Stars faced off against one of the NHL’s least performing teams, yet the match proved to be a challenging encounter.
Dallas started strong, dominating the early moments with a 7-0 advantage in shots within the first 11 minutes. Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring for the Stars, netting his 17th power play goal of the season. This achievement places him just one shy of the franchise record for most power play goals in a season, previously set by Mike Modano in 1993-94.
Despite the strong start, the Blues rallied. They equalized on a power play, with Dalibor Dvorsky finding the net after Dallas failed to extend their lead. The momentum shifted further when Pavel Buchnevich scored to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead early in the second period. The Stars managed to level the score again through Matt Duchene, who ended a personal five-game scoring drought.
Dallas initially thrived on power plays, converting two out of two opportunities in the game’s opening stages. However, their advantage fizzled during the latter half of the game. The Stars had several opportunities but could only muster three shots on goal during their subsequent power plays, leaving them without a five-on-five goal until the dying moments.
With just one minute remaining, Robertson delivered the decisive blow, scoring his 30th goal of the season directly off a face-off. This milestone places him among a select group of players in the league to reach the 30-goal mark this season. His timely goal allowed the Stars to avoid overtime, a situation where they have struggled, with a record of just 4-9 in such scenarios this season.
The Stars welcomed back Mikko Rantanen, who had missed the previous two games due to illness. Although he was not at his peak performance, registering only one shot on goal, his presence was significant for the team.
Looking ahead, the Stars will have another chance to build momentum as they face off against the Blues again on January 30, 2026, at St. Louis’ home arena. This matchup will be critical for Dallas as they aim to capture consecutive wins for the first time since December 21, 2025, and strengthen their position in the league. With two more encounters against the Blues scheduled before the Olympic break, the upcoming games present an opportunity for the Stars to regain their footing.
