(Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)
As the 2023-24 season for the Dallas Stars concludes, it’s hard knowing the team walked away without winning the Stanley Cup. Regardless, the season was filled with fun, memorable and exciting moments. But, what were the best of the best? Let’s dive into it:
#10 Wyatt Johnston toe drags around Luke Hughes for impressive goal
The Stars faced the Devils in the second game of an East Coast road trip. In the previous game against the Flyers, the Stars fell 5-1. The Stars headed to the Garden State looking to spoil Sergei Brylin’s Ring of Honor Night. They did with a 6-2 win. But, in the third period, Johnston scored one of the best goals of his career and the season.
Up 5-0 in the third period, Johnston toe dragged around Hughes and scored past Nico Daws to make it 6-0 Stars. Even though some of the fans left early, there were still some oohh’s and aahh’s from the fans at Prudential Center.
#9 Matt Duchene’s OT goal ends seven-game losing streak vs Canucks
When the Stars entered their game against the Canucks on Dec. 21, 2023, they lost their last seven games against the Canucks. At home, the Stars had a chance to end the streak. The teams needed overtime with the game tied at three to determine a winner.
With under 40 seconds remaining, the Canucks had a 2-on-0 in overtime with Elias Pettersson and Dakota Joshua. Scott Wedgewood came up with a crucial save on Pettersson to keep the game tied and got a roar from the AAC crowd. With under 10 seconds remaining in overtime, Duchene scored the winner in overtime to send the AAC home happy. Chaos at both ends in overtime.
#8 Two consecutive hat tricks vs Blackhawks
On Dec. 29, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, the Stars hosted the Blackhawks and two Stars would record hat tricks. In the Dec. 29 meeting, Roope Hintz scored the overtime winner to give the Stars a 5-4 win and finish the game with a hat trick. Two nights later, another Star scored a hat trick.
In the New Year’s Eve tradition, the Stars crushed the Blackhawks 8-1 to give the Stars fans a celebratory mood as 2023 finished. In the win, Mason Marchment recorded his first Stars hat trick.
#7 Stars clinch top seed in the West vs Blues
The Stars entered the final game of the regular season needing 1 point to clinch home ice advantage throughout the Western Conference and for the first time since 2016. The team hosted the Blues with nothing to play for on April 17, 2024.
Hope looked lost for the Stars when the Blues led 1-0 after 40 minutes of play. At 5:11 of the third period, Marchment scored to tie the game. As time in regulation ran out, Stars fans stood to applaud clinching the top seed in the West. Despite winning the game 2-1 in a shootout, one play was remembered from the game in overtime when Jake Oettinger made a stick save on St. Louis’ Robert Thomas to keep the game tied in overtime.
#6 Mike Modano statue gets unveiled
On Nov. 20, 2023, the Stars announced they would honor Modano with a statue outside of the AAC on PNC Plaza. Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki on one side and Modano on the other. Two Dallas sports legends honored outside together.
March 16, 2024, against the Kings was the night for Modano. Due to rain, the ceremony was postponed until the end of the first intermission. When the ceremony began, Modano was met with loud cheers and emotions started to flow through his eyes as the greatest Star in franchise history was honored with a statue. The 1999 jersey on statue was the icing on the cake. The Stars won 4-1 against the Kings.
#5 Logan Stankoven scores his first NHL goal
During the entire 2023-24 season, Stars and hockey fans wondered when would Dallas’ top prospect Stankoven would make his NHL debut. On Feb. 24, 2024, Stankoven made his NHL debut against the Hurricanes, but didn’t score.
Just two nights later on his 21st birthday, a moment happened Stars fans and the organization will never forget as Stankoven scored his first NHL goal late in the second period to tie the game at two against the Islanders. Stankoven’s family was in attendance.
#4 Stars erase 6-3 deficit in San Jose to win in overtime in Chris Tanev’s Stars debut
On March 5, 2024, the Stars flew the San Jose to face the Sharks just three nights removed from a 3-2 shootout win against the Sharks. Tanev finally got to make his Stars debut. The Stars found themselves trailing 6-3 in the third period. Would they give up? No.
The Stars scored three goals in a 2:44 span to tie the game at six with Johnston scoring his first career hat trick. The game needed overtime to determine a winner.
At 1:49 of overtime, Hintz scored the Stars’ fourth unanswered goal to win the game 7-6 in overtime in one of the best finishes in the entire NHL season.
#3 Johnston scores Game 3 OT winner against Golden Knights
The Stars started the 2024 Playoffs losing the first two games at home. Heading to Vegas trailing 2-0 in the series, the Stars had their backs against the wall in a must win Game 3.
After taking a 2-0 lead, the Knights scored twice in the second to tie the game. The third period was scoreless and overtime was needed. A 3-0 deficit would be daunting to overcome. But, Johnston had other ideas.
At 16:23 of overtime, Johnston fired a shot past Logan Thompson to give the Stars a 3-2 win for his second goal of the game. The win gave the Stars a new sense of confidence in the series.
#2 Duchene’s 2OT winner in Denver sends Stars to WCF
The Stars failed to eliminate the Avalanche at home in Game 5. The teams needed to head back to the Mile High City for Game 6.
In a nail biter game, the Stars trailed 1-0 after the second period. Jamie Benn scored early in the third period to tie the game. Overtime was needed and the first overtime saw controversy when Marchment appeared to score, but the goal was overturned for goaltender interference. A second overtime was needed.
The Stars could’ve folded and lose Game 6 and have a deciding Game 7. There’s an old saying “puck don’t lie.” It happened in the second overtime.
At 11:42 of the second overtime, Duchene scored the series winning goal against the team that traded him during the 2017-18 season. The goal sent the Stars to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year and the third time in five years.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Benn’s Round 7 shootout goal vs Sharks
- When the Stars are in shootouts, it’s not often Benn gets to have an attempt. On March 2, 2024, against the Sharks, the Stars found themselves needing their captain in the seventh round of a shootout. Benn turned back the clock to his Art Ross days and scored on a filthy shootout goal past Marcus Chrona.
Oettinger’s big save in Game 5 vs Golden Knights:
- The Stars and Golden Knights found themselves tied 2-2 entering Game 5 of the first round. With the Stars holding a 3-2 lead late in the third period, Chandler Stephenson found himself on a breakaway with a chance to tie the game. Oettinger had other ideas and denied Stephenson with a pad save. The AAC roared with a clutch save.
Jason Robertson scores hat trick in Game 3 vs Oilers:
- Early in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oilers, the Stars found themselves trailing 2-0. In the second period, momentum changed when the Stars scored three goals in a 3:33 span. Robertson scored two of the three goals in the second period. Before the period ended, Adam Henrique tied the game. At 11:54 of the third period, Robertson scored the hat trick when he shot a puck off of Stuart Skinner’s skate and it went in the net. The Stars went on to win 5-3 in Game 3.
#1 Radek Faksa scores Game 7 winner; Stars eliminate Golden Knights at home in the first round
The Stars and Golden Knights met in Dallas for Game 7 of the 2024 first round. From start to finish, Game 7 was a nail biter. Johnston scored the opening goal in Game 7 to give Dallas a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Golden Knights tied the game in the second period before the period ended.
Some would say an unsung hero needed to prevail to give the Stars the lead. It happened for Radek Faksa as he scored the go-ahead goal in Game 7 just 44 seconds into the third period to make the roof explode off the AAC on a sick backhand shot past Adin Hill. The Stars would eliminate the defending champions who eliminated them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
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