West-leading Stars wrap up playoff spot, beating Canucks 3-1 for 6th straight victory
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, back center, scores against Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven, left, lines up for a faceoff against Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen (4), Jamie Benn (14), Roope Hintz (24) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal as Vancouver Canucks’ Ian Cole (82) and goalie Casey DeSmith (29) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz (24), Jamie Benn (14) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) and Dallas Stars’ Sam Steel (18) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, right, vies for the puck against Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger, bottom, and Dakota Joshua, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland, right, checks Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston (53) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith and is given a goalie interference penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy, front right, shoves Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) checks Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment (27) as Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29) stops Dallas Stars’ Matt Duchene, left, and Wyatt Johnston, back right, as Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) and Tyler Myers (57) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, back center, scores against Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, back center, scores against Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven, left, lines up for a faceoff against Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven, left, lines up for a faceoff against Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen (4), Jamie Benn (14), Roope Hintz (24) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal as Vancouver Canucks’ Ian Cole (82) and goalie Casey DeSmith (29) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen (4), Jamie Benn (14), Roope Hintz (24) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal as Vancouver Canucks’ Ian Cole (82) and goalie Casey DeSmith (29) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz (24), Jamie Benn (14) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz (24), Jamie Benn (14) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) and Dallas Stars’ Sam Steel (18) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) and Dallas Stars’ Sam Steel (18) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, right, vies for the puck against Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger, bottom, and Dakota Joshua, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Roope Hintz, right, vies for the puck against Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger, bottom, and Dakota Joshua, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland, right, checks Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland, right, checks Dallas Stars’ Logan Stankoven during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston (53) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith and is given a goalie interference penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston (53) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith and is given a goalie interference penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy, front right, shoves Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy, front right, shoves Dallas Stars’ Joe Pavelski during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) checks Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment (27) as Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks’ Filip Hronek (17) checks Dallas Stars’ Mason Marchment (27) as Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29) stops Dallas Stars’ Matt Duchene, left, and Wyatt Johnston, back right, as Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) and Tyler Myers (57) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29) stops Dallas Stars’ Matt Duchene, left, and Wyatt Johnston, back right, as Canucks’ Carson Soucy (7) and Tyler Myers (57) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists and the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars wrapped up a playoff spot, beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.
Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shot to help Dallas improve to 46-19-9 and open a three-point lead over second-place Vancouver in the West.
Jamie Benn added a goal and an an assist, Jason Robertson had an empty-netter and Joe Pavelski had two assists. J.T. Miller scored for Vancouver, and Casey DeSmith made 31 saves.
Benn gave Dallas a 2-1 lead on a power play with 3:08 left, scoring a snap shot from the slot. The Stars captain has points in eight straight games and goals in six.
Hintz opened the scoring on a power late in the first period. Miller tied it midway through the second, sending a one-timer flying past Oettinger for his 35th.
Vancouver pulled DeSmith late for an extra attacker, only to see Hintz win a neutral-zone puck battle that led to Robertson tucking a shot into the empty net for his 27th.
UP NEXT
Stars: At Seattle on Saturday night.
Canucks: Host Anaheim on Sunday.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL