Miro Heiskanen had a goal and two assists and Jason Robertson added one of each as the Dallas Stars clinched their first Central Division title since 2016 with a 3-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Kraken on Saturday afternoon.
Craig Smith also scored for the Stars (51-21-9, 111 points), who had a chance to clinch the Western Conference regular-season crown should Vancouver lose in regulation at Edmonton later Saturday. Jake Oettinger made 26 saves as Dallas remained one point behind the New York Rangers for first place overall in the NHL.
Kailer Yamamoto tallied and Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 of 30 shots for the Kraken (33-33-13, 79 points), who have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
The Stars scored in the final minute in each of the first two periods.
In the first, Robertson’s shot from just outside the top of the left faceoff circle was redirected by Smith in the high slot and appeared to graze off the underside of the crossbar on its way into the net with 1.6 seconds remaining in the period.
The Stars had a chance to extend the lead when Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak was called for covering the puck in his own crease at 8:52 of the second. Grubauer turned aside Sam Steel’s penalty shot to keep the Kraken within a goal.
The Stars capitalized on a two-man advantage with 35.9 seconds left in the period. Seattle rookie Ryker Evans was called for hooking to prevent a scoring opportunity just outside his own crease and then Brandon Tanev was whistled for running over Oettinger on a short-handed breakaway. Robertson took a pass from Jamie Benn in the slot and put a wrist shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Heiskanen made it 3-0 at 12:23 of the third, collecting the puck in the left-wing corner after his first shot attempt was blocked. Heiskanen skated behind the net and lifted a wraparound over a sprawling Grubauer.
Seattle spoiled Oettinger’s shutout bid at 14:11 as Tomas Tatar stole Oettinger’s clearance attempt along the left-wing boards and fed Yamamoto for a tip-in at the top of the crease.
The Kraken reassigned Shane Wright — who had four goals over the previous five games, including three winners — and fellow rookie forwards Ryan Winterton and Logan Morrison to Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League to get ready for the Calder Cup playoffs. Wright, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 draft, was on the verge of playing enough games to trigger his three-year, entry-level contract.
–Field Level Media
