The Central Division-leading Dallas Stars enjoyed their best offensive output in 14 years.
DALLAS — Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists, Radek Faksa scored twice and the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars enjoyed their best offensive output in 14 years in a 10-4 rout over the Bufalo Sabres on Thursday night.
Joe Pavelski, Joel Kiviranta, rookie Wyatt Johnston, Evgenii Dadonov and Mason Marchment also scored in a game the Stars had 16 players earn at least a point. Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots and Dallas improved to 5-1-1 in its past seven and 4-0-1 in its past five road games.
The 10 goals are tied for second-most in a game in franchise history, and most since a 10-2 win over the New York Rangers on Feb. 2, 2009. The 10 goals also match a franchise record for most in a road game set two previous times when the Stars were based in Minnesota.
Stars forward Tyler Seguin did not return after he appeared to be cut along the left leg after getting tangled up with Jordan Greenway along the boards and fell to the ice 11 minutes into the first period. The Stars announced he would not return due to a lower-body injury.
The Sabres have dropped five of six to find themselves sliding out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, and in jeopardy of extending their NHL-record playoff drought to a 12th consecutive season.
Jeff Skinner had a goal and assist for Buffalo. Newcomer Greenway, acquired in a trade last week with Minnesota, Kyle Okposo and Victor Olofsson also scored. Eric Comrie stopped 39 shots in having a four-game winning streak snapped.
The Stars took advantage of numerous Sabres miscues in building a 3-0 lead with 35 seconds left in the first period when Pavelski and Benn scored 18 seconds apart. Though Greenway scored 10 seconds later, the Stars dominated a second period in which they scored twice and out-shot Buffalo 18-5.
The turning point came midway through the second period when Okposo sneaked in a shot past Oettinger to cut Dallas’ lead to 4-2 at the 9:51 mark.
The Stars answered 47 seconds later when Suter capped a 2-on-1 break by converting Mason Marchment’s rebound in front.
The game turned into a rout in the third period, with Dallas outscoring the Sabres 5-2.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Sabres entered the day 5-24-3 when scoring three or fewer goals this season. By comparison, they’re 27-3-1 when scoring four or more.
LINEUPS
Stars: D Joel Hanley played just his 17th game of the season in replacing Nils Lundkvist.
Sabres: Ds Mattias Samuelsson (upper body) and Riley Stillman (head) returned after each missed two games. In three games since being acquired in a trade from Dallas, Greenway has gone from filling a fourth-line role to playing on Buffalo’s top line alongside Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner.
UP NEXT
Stars: Continue six-game road trip with consecutive games at the Seattle Kraken on Saturday and Monday.
Sabres: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.