DALLAS (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Lightning scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Sunday at American Airlines Center. Oskar Bäck gave Dallas an early lead, but Tampa Bay’s Dominic James answered minutes later. The Lightning then pulled away with two second-period goals from Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel. Pontus Holmberg added a third-period goal. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for the Lightning, who improved to 30-17. Guentzel finished with a goal and an assist. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots for the Stars, who fell to 27-22.

DALLAS (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Lightning delivered a comprehensive road performance, stifling the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at American Airlines Center behind a dominant second period and a sharp outing from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The victory improved Tampa Bay’s record to 30-17, solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, while Dallas fell to 27-22 as their recent struggles continued. The game began with the Stars seizing an early lead. Just four minutes into the first period, Dallas center Oskar Bäck capitalized on a Tampa Bay turnover, firing a wrist shot past Vasilevskiy for his fourth goal of the season. Assists went to defenseman Nils Lundkvist and forward Mavrik Bourque. The Lightning responded before the period ended. At the 8:04 mark, forward Dominic James leveled the score with his fourth goal, converting a setup from Jake Guentzel and defenseman Charles-Edouard D’Astous. The goal seemed to settle Tampa Bay, and they carried the momentum into a decisive middle frame. The second period belonged entirely to the visitors. Tampa Bay outshot Dallas 13-5 and broke the game open with two goals. The go-ahead marker came at 12:04 when Brandon Hagel netted his team-leading 23rd goal of the season on a precise wrist shot. Nikita Kucherov and defenseman Darren Raddysh provided the assists. Just over four minutes later, the Lightning extended their lead. Following a sustained offensive-zone shift, Jake Guentzel collected a loose puck in the slot and slipped a backhand past Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for his 21st goal, making it 3-1. Dominic James and Oliver Bjorkstrand were credited with assists. Vasilevskiy was a central figure in preserving the lead, making 19 saves on 20 shots, including several key stops during a Dallas power play late in the second period. His counterpart, Oettinger, finished with 22 saves on 25 shots and faced consistent pressure throughout the night. Tampa Bay sealed the victory with a third-period insurance goal. At 11:59, forward Pontus Holmberg buried a wrist shot for his eighth of the year, assisted by Yanni Gourde and defenseman J.J. Moser, finalizing the 4-1 scoreline. The Lightning’s defensive structure was exemplary, limiting high-danger chances and blocking 18 shots. Key performances beyond the scorers included Darren Raddysh, who logged an assist, four shots, and two hits, and the checking line centered by Yanni Gourde, which was effective in neutralizing Dallas’s top players. Dallas, coming off a 2-1 loss in Utah on Thursday, could not generate sustained offense. Beyond Bäck’s early goal, their attack was muted, going 0-for-2 on the power play and failing to solve Vasilevskiy despite a few flurries of activity. The game was relatively disciplined, featuring only six minor penalties. Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak took two minors (hooking and interference), while Dallas’s infractions included a hooking call against Jason Robertson and an interference penalty against Colin Blackwell. The result continued a trend for both clubs. Tampa Bay has now won eight of its last ten games, showcasing the form that has made them a perennial contender. Dallas, meanwhile, has dropped three of its last four and will look to regroup quickly as they navigate a competitive Central Division. According to pregame projections, National Statistical’s game simulator had predicted a 4-3 Tampa Bay win, while its ELO system gave the Lightning a 53.2% probability of victory. The combined five total goals went under the posted over/under line of 5.5. The Lightning continue a brief homestand Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The Stars remain at home to host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Preview: Lightning at Stars, Sunday, January 18, 2026 DALLAS (Interstat) — Two of the NHL’s top teams from the past decade will clash Sunday when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. The Lightning (29-16-0) enter riding a surge, having earned points in 10 consecutive games (9-0-1). Their most recent outing was a 2-1 shootout victory in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Defenseman Janis Moser scored Tampa Bay’s lone regulation goal in that contest and has been a key contributor during the streak, posting three goals and two assists in his last 10 games. Conversely, the Stars (27-21-0) are looking to halt a slide, having lost seven of their last 10 games. They are coming off a 2-1 road loss to the Utah Mammoth on Thursday. Despite the team’s struggles, forward Mikko Rantanen remains a consistent offensive threat, recording five goals and five assists over the same 10-game span. This matchup is a rematch of an Oct. 30 meeting in Tampa, which the Lightning won 2-1 in overtime. The tight-checking affair is expected to set the tone again as both clubs feature high-end talent and structured defensive systems. Tampa Bay’s successful run has been built on balanced scoring and timely goaltending. Their .644 points percentage ranks among the league’s best. Dallas, despite its recent skid, holds a formidable home-ice advantage and will rely on its top line, anchored by Rantanen, to spark a turnaround. A focal point will be Moser’s two-way play against Dallas’s top forwards. The Lightning blueliner is logging major minutes and contributing at both ends. Following this game, Tampa Bay returns home to host San Jose on Tuesday. Dallas continues a homestand, welcoming Boston on Tuesday. Game Facts: Who: Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars. When: Sunday, 7 p.m. EST (6 p.m. local). Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas. Records: Lightning 29-16-0; Stars 27-21-0. Previous Meeting: Lightning won 2-1 (OT) on Oct. 30, 2025, in Tampa. Players to Watch: Lightning D Janis Moser (3g, 2a in last 10 GP); Stars RW Mikko Rantanen (5g, 5a in last 10 GP).