Marner extends point streak to 20 in Maple Leafs win against Stars

Mitchell Marner extended his Toronto Maple Leafs record point streak to 20 games in a 4-0 win against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday.

Marner is the fourth active player with a point streak of at least 20 games, joining Patrick Kane (26, 2015-16; 20, 2018-19), Sidney Crosby (25, 2010-11) and Paul Stastny (20, 2006-07). Marner has 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) during the streak.
"Those are some pretty amazing names," Marner said. "Like I've been saying this whole time, it's not a one-man effort out there. It's a lot of work from the guys around me, a lot of help from these guys around me, and it's been a lot of fun winning games as well. But a lot of kudos to these guys around me helping me out, helping me make plays. I'm just trying to go out there and buzz."

Jason Robertson had a personal-best 18-game point streak end (34 points; 21 goals, 13 assists). The Dallas forward fell two games short of the Stars/Minnesota North Stars record set by Brian Bellows, who had 11 goals and 18 assists in a 20-game run from Jan. 11-Feb. 21 in 1986.
It was the first time in NHL history two players with an active point streak of at least 18 consecutive games went head-to-head.
Matt Murray made 44 saves for his first shutout for the Maple Leafs (16-5-6), who extended their point streak to 12 games (9-0-3). It was the 15th shutout of Murray's NHL career.
"Some huge saves in big moments," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Obviously with the number of penalties we took today, it could have been a real problem for us. Murray was real solid. That 5-on-3 [penalty kill in the second period], he was incredible. He was outstanding. I'm happy for him."

Jake Oettinger made 25 saves for the Stars (14-7-5), who are 3-2-3 in the past eight games. They had 17 power-play shots but went 0-for-7.
"We had, of course, a lot of chances and a lot of power-play time," Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. "We had chances but didn't score. It's a little frustrating, but move on and be better next game.
"[The power play] has been working well this season, so we don't get too frustrated if it's not going in, but we had so many chances so it's a little bit frustrating. But that's part of the game. Sometimes it's not going in."
The Maple Leafs went up 1-0 at 4:51 of the first period when Marner's shot led to a rebound that John Tavares put in from the slot.
Auston Matthews made it 2-0 at 17:36 when he got his own rebound, skated into the slot and shot past Oettinger's glove to extend his point streak to five games (four goals, five assists).
Rasmus Sandin extended the lead to 3-0 at 12:19 of the second period when he got to a loose puck and shot short side on Oettinger. Michael Bunting had an assist, extending his assist streak to six games (seven assists).
Alex Kerfoot scored into an empty net at 16:07 of the third period, ending a 21-game goal drought, for the 4-0 final.

The Maple Leafs killed two minor penalties in the second period, a double-minor to Pierre Engvall for high-sticking at 5:51 and a 5-on-3 for 1:38, with the final five seconds carrying over to the start of the third period. Defenseman Timothy Liljegren played the final 2:40 of the second, including 22 seconds at 5-on-4 and 1:33 at 5-on-3.
"I don't know if there's words for that, that was just special," Matthews said about the 5-on-3 penalty kill. "At the end of the second, that penalty kill, a lot of credit goes to Murray, some incredible saves. Liljegren and Sandin just sticking in there and battling too.
Stars captain Jamie Benn credited Murray for preventing them from taking advantage of the power plays.
"We had a lot of good looks," Benn said. "We have to definitely find a way. The goalie made some great saves, so you have to tip your hat to him, but we've got to get the job done. We've got a game plan going out there. Some of our best looks were at 5-on-3, and their goalie stood on his head."
During the 5-on-3, Marner blocked a shot from Robertson, which broke his stick, leaving Toronto with only two skaters holding sticks for 26 seconds until Murray froze the puck.
"That's why I've got all this padding on these gloves," Marner said. "You try to hope they don't shoot it at you, but you have to try and get in lanes, especially when you have no stick. At that point, I'm just trying to be somewhat useful with my body."
NOTES: Toronto defenseman Victor Mete took a hit from Dallas defenseman Jani Hakanpää and left the game at 14:29 of the first period with a lower-body injury. Keefe said Mete will be unavailable for the rest of the week and "will miss some time" but that the injury is not believed to be serious. … Marner had his five-game goal streak end (six goals). … Only two goalies in Maple Leafs history had more saves in a shutout since 1955-56, when shots on goal were officially tracked, James Reimer (49, Feb. 4, 2012) and Mike Palmateer (47, March 12, 1977). … Maple Leafs forward
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
was plus-1 in 7:16 in his NHL debut after being recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Sunday. … Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins had one shot and one hit in 14:49 in his first game after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 23. … Dallas defenseman Nils Lundkvist had two shots and blocked three shots in 15:34 after being a healthy scratch the previous three games. … Toronto is 7-0-1 on the road in its past eight games.