Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston recorded a hat trick in the Stars’ 6‑1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Teammate Colin Blackwell summed up the performance on Instagram with the two‑word reaction, “He’s Him.” The win marked the Stars’ 10th triumph in their last 12 games, solidifying their standing in the league.
Johnston’s hat trick, his fourth in the NHL, was the game’s highlight. He netted two power‑play goals in the second period, first tying the game and then giving the Stars their initial lead. He completed the hat trick in the third period, capping a stretch of six unanswered Stars goals. Finishing with four points, Johnston raised his season total to 16 goals and extended his league‑leading tally in power‑play goals.
The Stars maintained momentum throughout the night. Jason Robertson contributed a goal and two assists in his 400th NHL game. Jamie Benn scored on a breakaway in the third period, and rookie Mavrik Bourque added a wrist‑shot goal through traffic. In net, Casey DeSmith turned aside 15 shots during a calm, low‑volume night.
Mikko Rantanen praised Johnston’s play, noting that his emergence as a reliable finisher—especially on the power play—has made playing alongside him easy. “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 credited his success to getting to the net and positioning himself for high‑percentage chances. “I think that goes along with just how great the players we have out there are, and they can make plays,” he explained. “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 victory improved the Stars’ record to 10‑1‑1 in their last 12 games, underscoring their strong recent performance. With Johnston’s hat trick and the team’s overall momentum, the Stars appear poised to continue their success in the league.
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