Dallas Stars Top Kings 3-1 on Jason Robertson’s Clutch Goal

LOS ANGELES — Jason Robertson’s late third-period backhand lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings Monday night, halting a six-game skid and jump-starting a critical West Coast swing for the Western Conference contenders. The winger’s goal with 3:46 remaining broke a 1-1 tie created moments earlier by Quinton Byfield and stood as Robertson’s 35th career game-winner. Rookie Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring just 3:44 into the contest, while Matt Duchene sealed the win with an empty-netter. Goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 24 of 25 shots, drawing praise from captain Jamie Benn for “being our best player in a grinder.” Dallas improved to 27-10-9 and reclaimed first place in the Central Division on points percentage, a significant bounce-back after the club went 0-3-3 to start 2026. The Stars are now 2-0-1 on a five-game trek that continues tonight in Anaheim. Heiskanen sidelined The team will be without star defenseman Miro Heiskanen against the Ducks as he attends to a personal family matter, head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed pre-game. Veteran Ilya Lyubushkin will draw into the lineup to steady a blue line already logging heavy minutes on the trip. Heiskanen, who owns 36 points (7-29-36) in 46 contests, is considered day-to-day. Road-trip storyline Dallas began the journey Jan. 6 in Carolina and will travel nearly 5,300 miles before returning home Jan. 15. The gauntlet features three Pacific Division foes and a finale in Salt Lake City versus the expansion Utah Yeti. Winning in Anaheim would secure at least seven of a possible 10 points—vital insurance in a crowded Central where only six points separate the top four clubs. Match-up to watch Tonight’s clash pits Dallas’ fourth-ranked offense (3.65 goals per game) against an Anaheim squad mired in a nine-game losing streak and surrendering 4.12 goals on average since Dec. 20. Look for Robertson, now riding a five-game point streak, to test rookie netminder Lukas Dostal, while Roope Hintz centers the top line in Heiskanen’s absence on the power play. Playoff implications With the NHL All-Star break three weeks away, the Stars are tracking toward a 110-point pace—good for home-ice advantage in the first round. Banking road wins now could prove decisive in April, especially with eight of their first 12 post-break games away from American Airlines Center. Key numbers • 500: Corey Perry collected his 500th assist on Byfield’s tally for L.A., becoming the first 40-year-old to hit the milestone. • 2-0-1: Dallas record since Benn returned from a nasal laceration; the captain skated Monday with a visor for the first time in 1,216 NHL games. • 25: Combined goals for Robertson and Johnston over the past 30 days, the most by any Stars duo in that span. Up next Puck drop in Anaheim is set for 9 p.m. CT. Following the Ducks, Dallas faces the resurgent San Jose Sharks on Thursday before wrapping up in Utah.