Stars 3-0 in coach Glen Gulutzan’s return after 5-2 win over Wild in home opener

DALLAS, TX — Wyatt Johnston kept his hot start going with a power-play goal, extending his season-opening scoring streak to three games, as the Dallas Stars beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 in their home opener Tuesday night.

The 22-year-old forward, now in his fourth NHL season, became the first Stars player since Alexander Radulov in 2018-19 to score in each of the team’s first three games.

Goaltender Jake Oettinger was outstanding in net, making 39 saves to help the Stars remain undefeated at 3-0 under head coach Glen Gulutzan, who returned to the Dallas bench this season. It’s only the third time since the franchise relocated to Dallas in 1993 that the team has scored at least three goals in each of its first three games. The win also marked their sixth consecutive victory in home openers.

Dallas jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period when Matt Duchene scored on a power play just 1:31 in. His pass into the crease took a fortunate bounce off Minnesota defenseman Jake Middleton’s skate and trickled past goalie Filip Gustavsson, who made 20 saves on the night. Esa Lindell opened the scoring from the top of the right circle at 5:37 of the first period, and Johnston followed with his goal late in the frame.

The Wild pushed back in the third with power-play goals from Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov, both assisted by rookie Zeev Buium, but couldn’t close the gap.

Radek Faksa and Roope Hintz sealed the win with empty-net goals in the final 1:42. Hintz also had assists on both first-period goals, and the Stars now have 11 different players who’ve found the net through just three games.

Tuesday’s game marked Gulutzan’s first behind the bench at American Airlines Center since a 3-0 loss to Detroit on April 27, 2013 — the end of his previous stint as head coach before being let go by newly hired GM Jim Nill. In a full-circle moment, Nill brought Gulutzan back this July after firing Pete DeBoer.

Up next:
The Stars continue their homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Wild move on to face the Capitals in Washington on Friday, the second stop of a five-game road trip.