Wyatt Johnston delivered once more in signature fashion, tipping a point shot from Miro Heiskanen at 12:10 of double overtime for a power-play winner that lifted the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of their first-round series. The 22-year-old center, who paced the NHL with 27 power-play goals during the 2025-26 regular season, now has three goals and two assists through three playoff games. This marked his third overtime winner in the series, underscoring his reputation as a clutch performer.
Johnston’s net-front presence proved decisive again, as he fought for position in the low slot—his office all season. “I don’t really exactly remember getting bumped, just trying to get to the net,” Johnston said postgame. “We’re trying to get some more pucks there, trying to get some opportunities around the net.” The Stars now hold a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 set for Saturday.
Johnston’s explosion on the power play
Wyatt Johnston transformed into one of the league’s premier power-play specialists this season. He scored 27 of his career-high 45 goals with the man advantage, tying for second-most among active players in a single campaign behind Leon Draisaitl’s 32 in 2022-23. Those 27 power-play tallies rank tied for 13th all-time in a season.
In contrast to his first three years, where power-play production was secondary, Johnston unlocked a new level. Here’s his progression:
- Rookie season: 3 of 24 goals on PP
- Sophomore: 3 of 32
- Third year: 11 of 33
- 2025-26: 27 of 45
He led the NHL with 30 high-danger goals and 27 from the low slot, per NHL Edge stats. Johnston broke the Stars’ single-season franchise record for power-play goals, surpassing Dino Ciccarelli with his 23rd earlier in the year.
The Stars’ power play ranked second league-wide at 28.6 percent efficiency. Johnston’s quick release and bumper positioning, honed from studying Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point and lessons from Joe Pavelski, made him lethal.
Clutch performer in the playoffs
Johnston has five points already in the series, including this latest heroics that flipped momentum after the Wild’s 6-1 Game 1 rout. In Game 2, he scored twice to even the series at 1-1, as detailed in this recap.
The 2024-25 playoffs tested him, but the prior postseason saw 10 goals and 16 points in 19 games. Now, with two power-play goals and two assists in the playoffs (Stars at 35.3 percent, 6-for-17), he’s elevating again.
Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt lamented the bounce after 32 saves: “It’s a ‘D’ shot that double tips and hits twice and goes over my shoulder. Yeah, it’s bounces, but that’s what it is.” Johnston’s third career playoff game-winner ties him for clutch moments.
His poise mirrors past Stars lore, like his series-clinching goal in Game 7 of the 2023 conference semis at age 20—the youngest ever.
Growth into a complete star
At 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, Johnston excels beyond offense. He’s a top two-way center, winning puck battles and ranking high in sustained speed bursts (94th percentile 18-20 mph).
Like Point, he carries in transition, evading checks to set up wings like Jason Robertson or Mikko Rantanen. Coach Pete DeBoer trusts him with 23:46 average playoff ice time—over a minute more than any other forward.
Earlier this season, Johnston hit his 100th career goal in a dominant win, becoming the first from his draft class to reach the mark.
Defensively solid, he played over 20 minutes nightly in the regular season. For more on his stats, check his NHL profile.
The Stars’ most vital forward
Johnston has become indispensable for Dallas’ deep playoff run. His net-front mastery opens lanes, and his growth from rookie sensation to PP king defines the Stars’ core.
As they face a resilient Wild squad, Johnston’s continued production will be key. The Stars converted 3-of-8 power plays in Game 3, exploiting Minnesota’s 1-for-7.
If Dallas advances past this series—historically favorable after winning Game 3 (2-1 lead)—Johnston could carry them far, much like his hat tricks and records this year.
The path to the Cup runs through his office in the low slot. Expect more clutch magic from the Toronto native.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.