In Dallas, the Stars outshone the Los Angeles Kings with a 4-1 victory on Saturday night. This win marked a clean sweep in their three-game season series against Los Angeles, with a dominating combined score of 13-3.
Scott Wedgewood, the Stars’ backup goaltender, showcased his skills by saving 27 shots. His performance was a key factor in Dallas’ victory. Thomas Harley, a defenseman, contributed significantly with a goal and an assist.
The victory was especially sweet for Wedgewood, who secured his second win against the Kings within just eight days. The Stars also saw goals from Craig Smith, Wyatt Johnston, and Jamie Benn. They jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period, steering clear of a potential third consecutive regulation loss, which they hadn’t faced since April 2022.
On the opposing side, David Rittich, the Kings’ goaltender, made 25 saves. Despite this effort and coming off a 5-0 win against Chicago the previous night, the Kings couldn’t maintain their momentum. Rittich entered the game with a career-best 2.19 goals-against average.
Kevin Fiala was the lone scorer for the Kings, marking his second goal against Wedgewood in their recent matchups.
An early goal by Harley, just 2:28 into the game, set the tone. His high wrist shot bounced off the glass, over the net, and then off Rittich’s arm to score. This goal ended Harley’s 13-game goal drought and added to his lead among Dallas defensemen with 15 goals.
Smith extended Dallas’ lead with a long wrist shot in the first period, marking his first back-to-back goals since March 2022. Johnston then added to the lead with a skillful play, maintaining possession during a break and securing a 3-0 advantage. His goal marked a personal best, scoring in four consecutive games.
Benn’s goal early in the second period capitalized on a power play, challenging the league’s top penalty-killing unit. Fiala managed to score for the Kings in the third period, continuing his scoring streak in recent games.
During the first intermission, the Stars celebrated their history by unveiling a statue of Mike Modano, the franchise’s leading scorer.
Looking ahead, the Kings are set to host Chicago in a three-game homestand starting Tuesday. The Stars will welcome Arizona on Wednesday, aiming to continue their winning momentum.