Stars win 6th in a row over Blues then wait on Central title

Rookie heart Wyatt Johnston scored his twenty fourth objective and the Dallas Stars ended their common season with a 1-0 victory over St. Louis Thursday night time, then waited to see if they might win the Central Division title.

The Stars (47-21-14) gained their sixth recreation in a row to complete with 108 factors, placing them three factors forward of Colorado for the division lead. The Avalanche had been nonetheless taking part in their residence finale when Dallas completed, and likewise had a recreation Friday night time at Nashville.

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger had 25 saves for his fifth shutout of the season. He stopped 4 photographs within the last two minutes when St. Louis pulled its goalie for an additional skater.

St. Louis (37-38-7) was already eradicated from the playoff rivalry, however the loss in its finale additionally snapped the franchise file of consecutive profitable seasons at 14. The Blues hadn’t had a dropping season since 2007-08. The NH’s longest lively streak is Pittsburgh’s 17 in a row, although the Penguins missed the playoffs as properly.

The 19-year-old Johnston, who performed all 82 video games, initially took a shot that deflected off a skate earlier than Evgenii Dadonov’s had a shot that ricocheted off the best publish. Johnston knocked the rebound previous Jordan Binnington 3:45 into the third interval for his third objective in two nights in opposition to the Blues.

Johnston’s 24 objectives are essentially the most of a Stars rookie since James Neal additionally had 24 in 2008-09. He has essentially the most objectives for a teen within the franchise since Mike Modano’s 29 as a 19-year-old rookie in 1989-90.

Binnington stopped 33 photographs whereas taking part in in his 61st recreation, a single-season profession excessive. He withstood a number of flurries of photographs, together with within the opening minutes when he turned away a short-hander.

NOTES: Stars ahead Mason Marchment performed for the primary time since March 13 after lacking 14 video games with a decrease physique harm. Coach Pete DeBoer mentioned it was “an opportunity to get his timing, get some contact, get all these issues you’ll be able to’t replicate in follow. .. .It is an vital step for him.”

UP NEXT

Blues: Season completed after lacking the playoffs for under the second time in 12 years.

Stars: Will open the playoffs at residence early subsequent week.