Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene will look to continue their respective hot streaks on Tuesday as the Dallas Stars conclude their road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Robertson recorded his third career hat trick with a scoring outburst in the second period on Sunday, lifting the Stars to a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
“I thought (Sunday) he was exceptional,” Dallas head coach Peter DeBoer said of Robertson. “He was moving his feet, he was attacking, he was scoring the type of goals he scores. We need him. We survived without that production in the first half of the year, but it makes a world of difference when he’s producing like that.”
Robertson, who shares the team lead in goals (23) with Duchene, has 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) over his last 23 games. He had an assist in the Stars’ 5-3 win over Columbus in Dallas on Feb. 2.
Duchene boasts club-best totals in assists (36) and points (59). He set up Robertson’s last two goals on Sunday to post his fourth multi-point performance in a row.
Sam Steel also tallied and Roope Hintz had two assists on Sunday for Dallas, which has won three in a row and eight of its last 10 games (8-1-1).
“We’re winning all kinds of ways right now, so that’s a great sign,” said Jake Oettinger, who made 34 saves on Sunday. “When you’re winning games and you’re not playing your best, that’s what you want to see. You’re not going to have your best every night.”
The Stars are 11-3-1 over their last 15 road games heading into the finale of their trek.
The Blue Jackets, in turn, have proven to be a tough customer at home this season. They sport a sizzling 18-6-4 record in Columbus.
The Jackets halted a four-game winless skid (0-3-1) with a 5-1 romp over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
Defenseman Zach Werenski extended his home point streak to 22 games after collecting a goal and two assists. That’s quite the effort given that Werenski was just days removed from leading all scorers with six points while representing the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Impressed? 100 percent,” Columbus head coach Dean Evason said. “Shocked? No. He’s just such an incredible athlete. His engine and all the emotions that he went through the last few days. I’m sure such great highs, obviously, and then a very big low, and he just slides back in and goes about his business and helps his team have success here.”
Werenski is just three games shy of matching Hall of Famer Bobby Orr’s NHL record for a home points streak by a defenseman. Orr accomplished the feat in 1974-75.
Werenski, however, said he’s focused on his team’s point total, not his own.
“Points are so important right now,” Werenski said. “With just over a month and a half left in the season, we’re battling with (Detroit). We’re battling with Ottawa, the Rangers. It’s fun to look at it, right? We’re in a great spot.”
Werenski, who leads the team in assists (44) and points (62), was held off the scoresheet in the previous encounter versus Dallas.
Kent Johnson had an assist in that meeting with the Stars and scored two goals versus the Blackhawks.
–Field Level Media
