Penguins can't solve shootout in 3-2 loss to Stars

Jason Mackey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec 7, 2025

Published in Hockey

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DALLAS — Three playoff teams. Two leading their respective divisions. One impressive road trip.

Although the Pittsburgh Penguins’ shootout woes continued during a 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center Sunday night, they finished a three-game road trip with five of a possible six points, two of those games against division leaders.

Mikko Rantanen scored the only shootout goal for either team, as the Penguins lost another game that extended beyond regulation.

But how they played the Stars, the second-best team in hockey, should still be seen as encouraging, far better than anyone expected at this point.

Especially given this one came without Evgeni Malkin, who’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Facing an under appreciated Stars team that was 7-1-2 in its past 10 and has more points than everybody but the Colorado Avalanche, the Penguins handled themselves well.

Just when it looked like the Penguins might cruise to what would've been their 14th regulation win, defenseman Miro Heiskanen spoiled the party. His shot from atop the right circle redirected off Blake Lizotte and fluttered over Tristan Jarry.

Although the Penguins played a tight second period, they ceded two-on-ones to start the middle period, the second one resulting in a goal. Right winger Jamie Benn was the triggerman on both and struck from the inner-edge of the right circle to force a 1-1 tie at 1:27 of the second.

Pittsburgh restored its lead thanks to a strong shift in the offensive zone from Sidney Crosby’s line, as Tommy Novak got the goal to continue his hot streak.

Novak, who has two goals and six points during his past five games, tipped a point shot from Kris Letang at 5:54 of the second.

Following a lengthy stretch where the Penguins limited Dallas to just two shots on goal for more than 20-plus minutes, Ryan Shea gift-wrapped one with a turnover in front of Jarry. The Penguins goaltender denied Stars left winger Matt Duchene on his doorstep.

The Penguins took a 1-0 lead during a largely even but uptempo first period, where the teams were tied, 18-18, in shot attempts.

Their goal came from the reunited fourth line of Lizotte between Connor Dewar and Noel Acciari, Dewar beating Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger at 18:18.

Acciari made a nifty play in the neutral zone before the Stars overcommitted to Lizotte along the left-wing boards. With ample time and space, Dewar unleashed a powerful shot from just above the hash marks that beat Oettinger five-hole for his sixth goal of the season.

Once again the Penguins gave up a Grade A chance right off the hop, this time an Erik Karlsson turnover that Stars left winger Jason Robertson tried to bury just 55 seconds into the game. But unlike last season, Jarry was able to make a timely save for the Penguins.

It was over when …

Letang couldn't score to extend the shootout.

Around the boards

— In addition to the aforementioned moves, the Penguins reassigned Boko Imama to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and recalled Harrison Brunicke and Jack St. Ivany from their conditioning stints with the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate.

Brunicke was part of the 23-man roster. St. Ivany, who was injured during the preseason, still carries an injured non-roster designation — where he doesn’t count against the 23-player limit.

— Connor Clifton was the Penguins’ only healthy scratch.

— The Penguins lost Bryan Rust for the second period with what looked like a right arm or hand injury. He was replaced for 20 minutes by Rutger McGroarty but returned for the third.

— With no goals in his past nine games entering Sunday, Anthony Mantha said after Saturday’s practice that he wanted to shoot more.

“You need to play the odds,” Mantha said. “The more shots you’re putting on net, the more chances you get to score. I need to find those open areas a little quicker and release quicker. Things are going to turn around.”

Mantha’s new mindset was evident early, as he attempted five shots in the opening period, putting two on goal.

— With Malkin sidelined, Rust took his place as an alternate captain along with Letang.

Up next

The Penguins are scheduled to practice on Monday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex at noon. They’ll host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena.

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