Wyatt Johnston Leads Stars to Shootout Victory Over Sabres in Season Finale

In a thrilling regular-season finale, Wyatt Johnston emerged as the hero for the Dallas Stars, scoring the decisive goal in a shootout to secure a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. This win marked the Stars’ third consecutive season with 50 wins, a feat accomplished for the seventh time in franchise history.

Dallas showcased a balanced attack with contributions from Justin Hryckowian and Esa Lindell, both of whom recorded a goal and an assist, while Mavrik Bourque added another goal to the mix. Goaltender Jake Oettinger was solid in net, stopping 21 shots and successfully thwarting two of Buffalo’s four shootout attempts.

On the other side, Zach Benson stood out for the Sabres, notching a goal and an assist, while Josh Norris and Alex Tuch—celebrating his 200th career goal—also found the back of the net. Colten Ellis made 25 saves during regulation but struggled in the shootout, allowing three goals on four attempts from Dallas.

Rangers Snap Losing Streak Against Lightning

Meanwhile, in Tampa, the New York Rangers ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Lightning. Tye Kartye was the standout performer, scoring two goals and adding an assist. The Rangers also received goals from Gabe Perreault and Mika Zibanejad, who scored on the power play. Goaltender Dylan Garand made 29 saves in his first start since March 27, helping his team secure a much-needed win.

For the playoff-bound Lightning, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Corey Perry managed to score, but several key players were rested ahead of the postseason. Brandon Halverson recorded 17 saves in the loss.

Panthers Dominate Red Wings

In Sunrise, the Florida Panthers closed out their injury-riddled season with a resounding 8-1 victory against the Detroit Red Wings. Mike Benning celebrated his first two NHL goals, while Wilmer Skoog, Mikulas Hovorka, and Ludvig Jansson each notched their first NHL points. Luke Kunin led the scoring with two goals, and several players, including Matthew Tkachuk, who returned after welcoming a newborn, contributed with two assists.

Detroit’s lone goal came from Justin Faulk, but it was a tough night for the Red Wings as they were overwhelmed by the Panthers’ offensive firepower.

Senators Clinch Wild Card Spot Against Maple Leafs

In Ottawa, the Senators secured a playoff spot with a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Power-play goals from Drake Batherson and Warren Foegel, along with an empty-netter from Dylan Cozens, sealed the victory for Ottawa, which rested several key players. Goaltender James Reimer made 19 saves against his former team, ensuring the Senators finished the season with a record of 44-27-11.

William Nylander scored the only goal for the Maple Leafs, while Dennis Hildeby, recalled from the AHL, made an impressive 35 saves in the loss.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.