Stars fall in shootout to Penguins after overtime drama

It was a night of whiplash for Dallas fans at the American Airlines Center. The Stars thought they had enough to survive the Penguins’ surge, but a single missed attempt in the shootout tipped the scales.

Dallas struck first, with Roope Hintz threading a perfect pass to Jamie Benn, who slipped the puck past goalie Jeff Kasper and gave the home crowd a brief sigh of relief. The Penguins answered back minutes later; Jake Guentzel tucked a rebound in, tying the game 2‑2 and setting the tone for a seesaw battle.

Both teams swapped goals in the second period. John Pilcer’s slapshot found the back of the net for the Stars, while Evgeni Malkin capitalized on a power‑play breakaway to push Pittsburgh ahead. The third period was a frenzy of chances, with neither side able to break the deadlock before regulation expired.

Overtime promised a sudden‑death finish, but the ice stayed quiet. Dallas pulled Jake Oettinger for a fresh look, yet the Penguins’ defense held firm, forcing the game into a shootout.

In the shootout, the Stars went first. Benn’s rush was stopped cold by Matt Murray, and then Tyler Seguin’s backhand attempt clanged off the post. When the Penguins took their turn, Malkin slid the puck cleanly past Oettinger, sealing a 4‑3 loss for Dallas.

It was a gut‑punch for the Stars, who now sit just outside the playoff picture. Coach Pete DeBoer praised his squad’s resilience but emphasized the need to tighten up in high‑pressure moments. The Penguins, meanwhile, celebrated a gritty win that keeps them in the chase for a postseason berth.