Stars explode in third period to down Maple Leafs

The Dallas Stars extended their winning streak to four with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night.

Dallas scored four third-period goals to break open a close game.

Esa Lindell picked up two helpers for the home team. Jake Oettinger made a number of key saves to keep the Stars in the lead in the first two periods, turning away 27 of 28 shots for the game.

Dennis Hildeby stopped 16 of 20 for the Maple Leafs, while Scott Laughton netted Toronto's only goal.

The Stars opened the scoring just before the first period came to a close. Fresh off a three-point night on Friday, Jason Robertson beat defenseman Jake McCabe to Oskar Back's long, backhanded flip from the other end of the rin, then Robertson flipped the puck past Hildeby to give his team the lead at the 18:30 mark.

Sam Steel extended Dallas' advantage in the third period, deflecting Ilya Lyubushkin's wrist shot from the point past Hildeby and just inside the post at the 5:03 mark. It was Laughton who solved Oettinger about three minutes later, taking the puck out of the zone himself to beat the towering goaltender over the shoulder to cut the Toronto deficit to 2-1.

Jamie Benn quickly quashed hopes for a comeback, tipping Miro Heiskanen's one-timed slap shot to provide some cushion with less than eight minutes remaining. Mavrik Bourque beat Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the puck to tuck home an empty-netter at the 17:55 mark. Justin Hryckowian added a fifth score in the final minute with Hildeby back in net.

Both teams exchanged fantastic opportunities early in the opening frame. Hryckowian sprung Benn to split the Leafs' defense three minutes in, thwarted by the quick pads of Hildeby. Auston Matthews proceeded to pick the puck off Thomas Harley's stick, forcing a fast flash of leather from Oettinger. The game marked the first time Toronto outshot its opponent in the first period since Nov. 22.

The Stars had a goal disallowed halfway into the second period after Roope Hintz was judged to be narrowly offside. Oettinger received a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of the period after robbing Troy Stecher and Laughton seconds before the horn sounded.

Toronto's league-worst power play continued to struggle as new players shuffled on and off the top unit. The Leafs went 0-for-4 on the night with a man-advantage.

The result snapped Toronto's seven-game win streak when playing in Dallas. The Leafs have now dropped three straight and five of their last six.

--Field Level Media