Stankoven, Marchment Lead Stars To Game One Victory Over Nashville Predators

Rookie forward Logan Stankoven posted three assists, and winger Mason Marchment scored two goals -- including the game-winner -- as the Dallas Stars won their first game of the season Thursday by a 4-3 score in the opening game of their 2024-25 regular season.

Stankoven -- who posted six goals and 14 points in his first 24 NHL games this past season -- assisted on the Stars' first three goals Thursday, including setting up forwards Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson and Marchment on his first goal of the night. Dallas also got a goal and assist from Hintz, and Stars goalie Jake Oettinger turned aside 33 of 36 shots from the host Predators, who had new Preds Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in the lineup for the first time.

Related: Projecting The Stars: Logan Stankoven

It was a balanced offensive attack for the Stars, who got at least one point from eight different players in Thursday's win. And seeing Marchment put up a pair of goals is a good harbinger for the 29-year-old, who posted a career-best 22 goals and 53 points in 82 games last season.

That said, Stankoven was particularly excellent for Dallas, who now prepares to host the New York Islanders and Seattle Kraken Saturday and Sunday. The 21-year-old has been pegged by many as a front-runner for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie this year, and Stankoven looked right at home Thursday. helping his team pick apart veteran goalie Scott Wedgewood. Dallas generated only 20 shots on net at Wedgewood, but they made them count.

It was also good to see Hintz looking strong, and to see Wyatt Johnston, Matt Duchene, Tyler Seguin and Thomas Harley chip in with a point apiece. It wasn't a perfect game for the Stars, but it was an important win against a Central Division rival and a great way to set the competitive bar out of the gate. If Dallas can get a similar effort this weekend, they're going to be 3-0-0 out of the gate and serving notice to their opponents that they're just as good as many pundits have made them out to be.

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