Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored a hat trick in a 6-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, with teammate Colin Blackwell summarizing the performance with a two-word reaction on Instagram: “He’s Him.” The victory marked the Stars’ 10th win in their last 12 games, solidifying their position in the league.
Johnston’s hat trick, his fourth in the NHL, was a highlight of the game. He scored two power-play goals in the second period, tying the game and giving the Stars their first lead. He completed the hat trick in the third period, capping a stretch of six unanswered goals by the Stars. Johnston finished with four points, bringing his season total to 16 goals and extending his league-leading total in power-play goals.
The Stars’ momentum was carried throughout the night, with Jason Robertson recording a goal and two assists in his 400th NHL game. Jamie Benn scored on a breakaway in the third, and rookie Mavrik Bourque added another goal with a wrist shot through traffic. Casey DeSmith turned aside 15 shots in a calm, low-volume night in net.
Mikko Rantanen praised Johnston’s game, noting that playing alongside him has been easy due to his emergence as one of the team’s most reliable finishers, especially on the power play. “He doesn’t need many chances on the power play to score,” Rantanen said. “He’s very good in tight areas, soft hands, and he can shoot the puck. Really important on our power play.”
Johnston attributed his success to getting to the net and putting himself in spots where high-percentage chances develop. “I think that goes along with just how great the players we have out there are, and they can make plays,” he said. “For me, it’s just getting to the slot and being ready to shoot it whenever we have it because the guys can find me pretty easy.”
The win improved the Stars’ record to 10-1-1 in their last 12 games, demonstrating their strong performance in recent weeks. With Johnston’s hat trick and the team’s overall momentum, the Stars are poised to continue their success in the league.