Stars 5, Sharks 0: Oettinger posts a shutout as Dallas earns its first win
Jake Oettinger collected his 17th career shutout and Dallas scored three times in the second period against a San Jose team missing captain Macklin Celebrini.
The Dallas Stars got their first win of the season on Monday night, beating the San Jose Sharks 5-0 at American Airlines Center behind a shutout from Jake Oettinger. Dallas moved to 1-2-0; San Jose, which had opened the season with two straight wins, fell to 2-1-0, per NHL.com.
How it unfolded
Miro Heiskanen broke the deadlock late in the first period, scoring at 18:51 on a backhand that, according to NHL.com, went off the skate of San Jose defenseman Dmitry Orlov and Yaroslav Askarov's right pad. NBC DFW noted it ended up as the game-winner.
The second period belonged to Dallas. Joel Kiviranta made it 2-0 at 3:17, banking a puck in off Askarov's pad after a shot from Oskar Back deflected off Jacob Trouba. Jamie Benn followed at 6:19, finishing a between-the-legs touch pass from Jason Robertson. Robertson then scored himself at 16:30, a wrist shot over the blocker from the slot. Mikko Rantanen added the fifth in the third period, at 15:22, with a wrist shot from the left circle.
Benn and Robertson each had a goal and an assist, Roope Hintz had two assists, and Benn, Robertson and Rantanen each scored for the first time this season, NHL.com reported.
The goaltending
Oettinger earned the 17th shutout of his career. Askarov made 21 saves for San Jose. The sources differ slightly on Oettinger's workload: NHL.com says 13 saves, NBC DFW says 14.
The Celebrini factor
San Jose played without captain Macklin Celebrini, who was scratched shortly before puck drop with a lower-body injury after going through warmups. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said he was still being evaluated, per NHL.com. Ty Dellandrea, a former Stars forward, made his season debut in his place. NBC DFW noted that Celebrini had assisted on Igor Chernyshov's overtime winner in the Sharks' opener.
Warsofsky said after the game that his team "just couldn't get any traction" after a strong first ten minutes, pointing to early penalties. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan credited more time in the offensive zone and cleaner blue lines, per NHL.com.
What it means
For Dallas, a first win after an 0-2 start eases early pressure, and NHL.com notes the Stars have now gone 10 straight games against San Jose with a point (9-0-1). San Jose's immediate question is Celebrini's availability; the Sharks play at St. Louis on Thursday while the Stars visit Buffalo the same day, NBC DFW reported.