Jason Robertson completed a hat trick in a nine-minute span of the second period Sunday night for the surging Dallas Stars, who knocked off the New York Islanders 4-3 in Elmont, N.Y.
The fourth regular-season hat trick of Robertson’s career was his first since Dec. 1, 2022.
Sam Steel scored in the first period for the Stars, who completed a back-to-back road sweep in their return from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off. Dallas, which beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday night, has won eight of its last 10 (8-1-1).
Goalie Jake Oettinger made 34 saves.
Pierre Engvall, Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Duclair scored for the Islanders, who have lost three straight (0-3-0). New York is five points out of a wild-card spot with a handful of teams between it and the final berth.
Goalie Ilya Sorokin recorded 25 saves.
Steel opened the scoring just 2:10 after the opening faceoff, when Cody Ceci’s shot bounced off teammate Oskar Back and then to Steel, who put the puck beyond Sorokin’s stick.
The Islanders tied the score following an end-to-end rush 3:44 into the second. Kyle MacLean’s backhanded pass glanced off the stick of Engvall, who looked as if he was trying to take a better shot when the puck trickled under Oettinger’s legs.
Robertson began his flurry by using Islanders defenseman Scott Perunovich as a screen before firing a shot beyond Sorokin’s glove at the 8:48 mark.
The Islanders won the subsequent faceoff before tying the score just seven seconds later. Tony DeAngelo’s clearing pass sailed through the neutral zone to Palmieri, who fell but managed to retain control. With Stars defensemen Mathew Dumba and Lian Bichsel in pursuit, Palmieri sent a shot under Oettinger’s glove
Robertson scored the go-ahead and game-winning goals in a span of 1:35 during a power play generated when Islanders center Casey Cizikas was assessed a match penalty for delivering a check to the head of Bichsel.
After Robertson’s angled shot from the goal line went over a sprawling Sorokin with 4:07 left, he capped his hat trick by putting back the rebound of a shot by Wyatt Johnston.
Duclair scored his first goal since Jan. 24 by backhanding home the rebound of his own shot at 9:17 of the third through a crowded crease, which included teammate Anders Lee as well as Stars defensemen Esa Lindell and Ilya Lyubushkin.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s potential game-tying goal with 4:52 left was waved off due to goalie interference on Engvall, who nudged Dumba into Oettinger.
–Field Level Media
