Wyatt Johnston is making a compelling argument for a spot on the Olympic team. He notched his fourth NHL career hat trick, including two power-play goals, as the Dallas Stars cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators at the American Airlines Center on Sunday. Johnston currently leads the NHL with 12 power-play goals and recorded his second four-point game in under a week.
Jason Robertson also shined for Dallas, scoring the game-winning goal and contributing two assists in his 400th NHL game. Mavrik Bourke and Jamie Benn also scored as the Stars extended their impressive run to a 10-1-1 record in their last 12 contests.
For Ottawa, Jake Sanderson scored the lone goal, but goalie Linus Ullmark struggled, conceding six goals on just 26 shots despite recent improvements. The Senators’ defense frequently left Dallas forwards open in dangerous areas, leading to high-quality scoring chances. Ottawa, trailing 3-1 going into the third period, faltered again late in the game for the second year in a row.
Johnston and Robertson share the team lead with 16 goals each, ranking fourth in the NHL. Robertson has found the net in 10 of his last 11 games, tallying 13 goals and nine assists, while Johnston’s power-play success has put him in talks for representing Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Only six Canadian skaters have more points than Johnston’s current total of 30.
Johnston expressed the honor of potentially joining the Olympic team but emphasized his focus remains on helping the Stars win to improve his chances. Dallas’ backup goalie Casey DeSmith stopped all 15 shots faced. With the loss, Ottawa’s record falls to 12-9-4 overall and 3-3 on their road trip, dropping them out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference as they prepare for a crucial game against Montreal on Tuesday.
Notably, the Senators are finishing the month with a 6-4-3 record—the first above .500 monthly record since the 2016-2017 season. However, recent shaky performances, including Friday’s game in St. Louis, cast doubt on a strong December. Fortunately for the team, their exhausting road trip is nearly over, with just one more game remaining in Montreal.
Written by Steve Warne for The Hockey News Ottawa.
Fan Take: Wyatt Johnston’s rise highlights the fresh talent reshaping the NHL and the Olympic roster, showing that emerging stars are ready to make a global impact. For hockey fans, these performances promise thrilling competition ahead and signal an exciting future for both the NHL and international play.
