While many Dallas Stars have turned in signature moments in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs so far, talented scoring winger Jason Robertson finally delivered his own with a multi-goal performance in the team's win over Edmonton on Monday.
When the puck dropped for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, Robertson had scored just three goals so far in the first two rounds and two games of the playoffs.
When the horn sounded on Monday night with the Stars ahead 5-3, Robertson had completed a hat trick to double his output and swing the series firmly in Dallas' favor.
Robertson Comes Through With Hat Trick
After the Oilers took Game 1 in Dallas, the Stars responded with a win in Game 2, but the series shifted to Edmonton Monday night with the Oilers now holding home ice advantage in the series.
The Stars took it right back with a 5-3 win, but things appeared as though they were going wrong in a hurry for the group from Texas.
Zach Hyman broke the ice just two minutes into Game 3 with his league-leading 13th goal of the playoffs to make it 1-0, and Connor McDavid struck to make it 2-0 just a few moments later with a goal that bounced in off of Dallas.
The Oilers held the Stars off the scoreboard for the entire first period, taking a 2-0 lead into the second.
That's when Robertson got going, as he scored two goals less than three minutes apart to quickly tie the game with the type of scoring outburst he's so often proven capable of but not displayed on this postseason run.
A minute after Robertson's second goal, young star Wyatt Johnston gave Dallas a 3-2 lead, as while Robertson stepped up to the moment for the first time, Johnston continued his streak of meeting it in the biggest spots.
Adam Henrique scored a clutch goal for the Oilers to tie the game back up with less than a minute in the period to give the Oilers hope once more.
But Robertson had one more in him as the American struck with about eight minutes left to break the tie and wrap up his hat trick, and the Stars held on as Miro Heiskanen scored into the empty net to seal a 5-3 win for Dallas that gave the Stars control of the series.
With Robertson finally out of his slump, the Stars might just prove to be unstoppable given the amount of scoring depth and defensive dominance they are capable of.
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