National Hockey League
Dallas 5, Columbus 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, April 17, 2021
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Referees: Jake Brenk, Wes McCauley
Linesmen: Ryan Gibbons, Libor Suchanek
Attendance: 5643

The Dallas Stars rode a four-goal outburst late in the second period in a 5-1 home victory over the slumping Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Jamie Benn, Denis Gurianov, Joe Pavelski, John Klingberg and Esa Lindell all collected one goal and one assist in the win. Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 21 saves for the Stars, who are on a 4-0-2 roll.

The win puts Dallas (17-14-12) three points back of the Nashville Predators (24-21-1) in the chase for fourth place in the Central Division. Dallas has three games in hand. The Chicago Blackhawks (21-19-5) are one point ahead of Dallas.

Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz both collected two assists.

Vladislav Gavrikov scored the lone goal for the losing side. Starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo stopped 12 of 16 shots before being pulled in favor of Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins made 15 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have lost five straight games and are in a 2-10-2 slump.

With the score tied at the midway point, Gurianov started the onslaught when he and Benn combined on a give-and-go during an odd-man rush at the 10:10 mark of the middle frame. It was the first of four goals in a 5:30 span.

Pavelski made it a 3-1 affair three minutes later when he received a pass from Robertson as he headed to the slot, spun and whipped a backhanded shot into the net for his team-high 18th goal.

On the next shift, Klingberg scored when he elected to shoot on a three-on-one rush, and then Lindell rounded out the scoring when he stepped in from his point position during a flurry and buried a shot with 3:20 remaining in the period.

Gavrikov and Benn traded first-period goals. Gavrikov gave the visitors the lead when he scored at the 6:06 mark, but the Blue Jackets have a miserable 12-9-7 mark when scoring first, and that lead was short-lived.

Benn tied the game at 12:35 by burying a rebound opportunity, which sent the hosts on their way to a second consecutive win over the Blue Jackets.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Columbus   Dallas
Vladislav Gavrikov 1 Points Jamie Benn 2
Vladislav Gavrikov 1 Goals Jamie Benn 1
Cam Atkinson 1 Assists Roope Hintz 2
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Elvis Merzlikins .938 Save Percentage Jake Oettinger .955
Elvis Merzlikins 15 Saves Jake Oettinger 21
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Columbus 22 1 0-1 3-3 18 22
Dallas 32 5 0-3 1-1 4 39
Upcoming Games
  • Dallas will play their next game at home against Detroit. The Stars have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .385 after a loss.
  • Columbus will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Blue Jackets have a W/L % of .267 after a win and .367 after a loss.