WINNIPEG, Manitoba — In a series of seven first-period puck touches, Jason Robertson re-introduced himself to the hockey world as one of the game’s next great players.
Then he reinforced the point in overtime.
Robertson had his first career hat trick in the Stars’ 4-3 overtime win over the Jets, capping the night with the game-winner with 30 seconds left in overtime.
He also scored in the first period, stick-handling his way around Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to pot his first goal of the evening, a dizzying nexus of moves to the backhand and forehand and over again.
His second goal of the night came in the second period, slipping a backhand between Hellebuyck’s legs after a saucer pass from Thomas Harley. It was Robertson’s fifth multi-goal game of the season, an effort backed up by Braden Holtby’s 39 saves.
All four games between Dallas and Winnipeg this season have gone to overtime or a shootout.
Paul Stastny (twice) and Kyle Connor also scored for the Jets. Denis Gurianov tied the game for Dallas, firing a point shot through a Robertson screen with 4:32 left in the third period.
The Stars gave Winnipeg six power-play opportunities, including an abbreviated 5-on-3, and only gave up Stastny’s goal with one second remaining on Riley Tufte’s slashing penalty.
After Friday’s result, the Stars are seven points ahead of the Jets with one game in hand on Winnipeg.
The win kicked off an important road trip for the Stars, who also play at Minnesota and Nashville as they try to chase down the Wild and the Predators in the Central Division standings.
“It’s there for us, and it’s going to be up to us to continue to play well,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said before the game. “Clearly, we’ve got to start winning some more games on the road. We’ve got a lot of road games this month: 10. If we’re going to stay in that fight for that spot, hopefully move up to that third spot, we’ve got to win on the road.”
At the All-Star break, it was tough to imagine the Stars contending with Nashville and Minnesota for a playoff spot. But they entered Friday with seven wins in the 10 games since the All-Star break to close the gap.
“There’s no comfort level with where we’re at,” Stars forward Joe Pavelski said pregame. “There’s been a lot of hard work to get back to this point. We’ve had a few moments where we’ve clawed back to right around that eighth spot and then we’ve taken a little dip.”
Robertson did his part to put the Stars in a position to win.
It’s been something that the Stars have come to expect from the second-year player, constant production on one of the league’s best lines. He’s now up to 25 goals on the season, and has followed up his Calder runner-up season with a superb year ahead of a new contract this summer.
On Gurianov’s goal, not only did Robertson set the screen in front of Hellebuyck, but he also was instrumental in winning the puck for Dallas on the forecheck and in carving out space in front of the crease.
Then Robertson finished it off himself, as three hats landed on the Canada Life Centre ice.
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— Another milestone: With the secondary assist on Robertson’s first goal of the night, Pavelski reached 900 career points in the NHL.
He became the sixth player in NHL history that was drafted in the seventh round or later to reach 900 points. He also became 14th American-born player to reach the milestone. Former Stars great Mike Modano leads all Americans with 1,374 career points.
“There’s a lot of hockey out there that’s been played, a lot more that needs to be played,” Pavelski said before the game. “You just try to handle the night and try to contribute how you can. Try to add to it tonight.”
Pavelski, 37, leads the Stars with 57 points in 53 games this season.
