Mavrik Bourque's hat trick sparks Stars' comeback vs Leafs

The 22-year-old forward scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:03am

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A dynamic, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic action of a hockey game, with players and the puck fragmented into overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, red, and white.Mavrik Bourque's hat trick fuels the Dallas Stars' thrilling comeback win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.Dallas Today

Mavrik Bourque, a 22-year-old forward for the Dallas Stars, scored his first career hat trick to lead his team to a 6-5 comeback victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. Bourque's go-ahead goal in the final minutes of the third period capped off the Stars' rally after they had fallen behind earlier in the game.

Why it matters

Bourque's breakout performance is a promising sign for the Stars, who are looking to build on their playoff appearance last season. The young forward's ability to take over a game could be a key factor as the team pushes for a deep postseason run.

The details

Bourque scored the Stars' first three goals of the game, tying it up 3-3 in the second period before netting the game-winner with under 3 minutes remaining. His hat trick came after the Leafs had jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first period.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Bourque scored his first goal in the first period, his second in the second period, and the game-winner in the third period.

The players

Mavrik Bourque

A 22-year-old forward for the Dallas Stars who scored his first career hat trick in the game.

Dallas Stars

The NHL team that Bourque plays for, based in Dallas, Texas.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The NHL team the Stars were playing against, based in Toronto, Ontario.

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What they’re saying

“Mavrik really stepped up for us tonight. That hat trick was huge in sparking our comeback.”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach, Dallas Stars

What’s next

The Stars will look to build on this momentum as they continue their road trip, facing the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.

The takeaway

Bourque's breakout performance showcases the young talent on the Dallas Stars roster and provides hope that the team can make a deep playoff push this season.