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Jason Robertson Dallas Stars - In Play! magazine
Jason Robertson recorded his third career 100-point calendar year (regular season & playoffs) with a three-point game during Dallas’ eight-goal outburst. File photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
20
Dec

NHL DECEMBER 19, 2025 – ROBERTSON, STARS FLY HIGH WITH EIGHT-GOAL OUTING

Jason Robertson (2-1—3) led a Dallas offense that scored eight goals in a game for the second time this season, seven of which came in the first two frames, in a win that saw 14 different players find the score sheet. The Stars matched the most games with eight-plus goals by a team this season, tied with Florida, Buffalo and Colorado.

  • Robertson factored on three of Dallas’ seven goals through two periods – the most by a team this season through 40 minutes of action – and climbed into the top 10 on multiple franchise lists (three-point games & multi-goal periods). Robertson (52-49—101 in 93 GP) also tied Bobby Smith, Dino Ciccarelli and Mike Modano (all w/ 3) for the most 100-point calendar years (including playoffs) in Stars/North Stars history.
  • The Stars lead all teams with 61 wins in 2025 (including playoffs), just ahead of the Panthers (59), Oilers (57) and Hurricanes (56). Dallas has only recorded more wins in a calendar year twice (63 in 1999 & 62 in 2024) and needs only three more over its remaining four games in 2025 to set a franchise mark.

MARCHAND, REINHART HELP PANTHERS TO THREE-GOAL, THIRD PERIOD COMEBACK WIN

After Carolina went up 3-0, Brad Marchand (1-1—2) scored with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation to start Florida’s rally and Sam Reinhart (1-1—2) found the back of the net in the final 42 seconds to set the stage for the Panthers (19-13-2, 40 points) to win in the shootout as they moved into second place in the Atlantic Division standings. Florida earned a three-goal, third-period comeback win for the sixth time in franchise history and first since April 2, 2022.

Marchand scored his team-leading 20th goal of 2025-26 and required the fourth-fewest games in NHL history by a player age 37 or older to reach that mark in a season behind Alex Ovechkin (27 GP in 2024-25 & 31 GP in 2022-23) and Brendan Shanahan (27 GP in 2006-07).

SHERWOOD’S HAT TRICK

Kiefer Sherwood led Vancouver to victory Friday when he scored his third career hat trick – all since joining the Canucks in 2024-25, which is tied for the most among all players through that span. Sherwood (112 GP) required the second-fewest games in franchise history to score three hat tricks with the club, behind only Alexander Mogilny (37 GP).

Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada SLATE HAS Crosby back at Bell Centre

Saturday’s star-studded 13-game schedule is highlighted by four Hockey Night in Canada contests in Nashville, Montreal, Boston and Calgary.

  • Auston Matthews is set to follow up his game against Alex Ovechkin on Thursday by facing another decorated No. 1 pick, Steven Stamkos, when the Maple Leafs visit the Predators. Matthews needs six goals to grab the franchise record from Mats Sundin (420), who skated alongside Hockey Night in Canada’s Kevin Bieksa during Sundin’s only career game versus Stamkos (Feb. 27, 2009).
  • Sidney Crosby is slated to play his first game at Bell Centre since the 4 Nations Face-Off when the Penguins are pitted against Nick Suzuki and the Canadiens. Crosby, who needs two points to pass Mario Lemieux (1,723) for the most in franchise history, shared a special moment with Lemieux ahead of the tournament opener on Feb. 12.
  • Morgan Geekie can become the League’s first player with 50 goals since Jan. 1 when the Bruins battle Brock Boeser and the Canucks. Geekie would be the fifth skater in franchise history with 50 goals during a calendar year, following Phil Esposito (5x; most: 72 in 1971), David Pastrnak (2x; most: 58 in 2023), Rick Middleton (2x; most: 58 in 1983) and Cam Neely (2x; most: 52 in 1990).
  • Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights close out Hockey Night in Canada against Marner’s former teammate Nazem Kadri and the Flames during one of three contests with a 10 p.m. ET start time Saturday..

Ducks’ Vatrano Fined for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct against Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson during NHL Game No. 548 in Anaheim on Friday, Dec. 19. The incident occurred at 5:01 of the third period. Vatrano was assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, two minor penalties for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Guest Writer