Stars clinch second in Central as Robertson, Oettinger lead 2–0 win over Rangers

Dallas secures playoff spot with victory over struggling New York Rangers

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game between the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers, with the players' movements and the puck represented as abstract shapes and angles in the team's colors.The Stars' decisive victory over the Rangers showcases the team's prowess and sets the stage for an intense first-round playoff matchup.NYC Today

The Dallas Stars beat the New York Rangers 2-0 on Saturday night to clinch second place in the Central Division. Jason Robertson scored a power-play goal and an empty-netter, while goaltender Jake Oettinger recorded his fourth shutout of the season with 22 saves. The win, paired with Minnesota's loss, locked the Stars into the Central Division's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff matchup with the Wild.

Why it matters

The Stars' victory secures their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they will face the Minnesota Wild in the first round. This is an important result for Dallas, as they look to build momentum heading into the postseason after a strong regular season performance.

The details

Jason Robertson opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the third period, collecting the rebound of Matt Duchene's shot and lifting a backhander past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Robertson then added an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the win. Oettinger was stellar in net, making 22 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. The Rangers, who have struggled this year and will miss the playoffs, went 0-for-5 on the power play, including a 1:02 stretch of 5-on-3 time late in the second period.

  • The Stars clinched second place in the Central Division on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Robertson's power-play goal came with 7:11 remaining in the third period.

The players

Jason Robertson

A 24-year-old forward for the Dallas Stars who scored a power-play goal and an empty-net goal in the win.

Jake Oettinger

The 24-year-old goaltender for the Dallas Stars who recorded his fourth shutout of the season with 22 saves.

Igor Shesterkin

The 27-year-old goaltender for the New York Rangers who made 17 saves in the loss.

Matt Duchene

The 32-year-old forward for the Dallas Stars who assisted on both of Robertson's goals.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the New York Rangers who previously led the U.S. men's hockey team to gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build momentum heading into the playoffs. This was an important win to secure our spot and get ready for the postseason.”

— Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars Forward

“Our power play needs to be better. We had our chances but couldn't capitalize, and that ended up costing us in this game.”

— Mike Sullivan, New York Rangers Head Coach

What’s next

The Stars will face the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the Rangers will look to regroup and try to make the playoffs next season.

The takeaway

The Stars' victory secures their spot in the playoffs and sets up an intriguing first-round matchup with their division rival, the Minnesota Wild. Meanwhile, the Rangers' struggles continue as they miss the playoffs for the second straight year after winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2024.