Maple Leafs vs Stars: Stars Rally 6-5 Behind Bourque Hat Trick

The Dallas Stars erased a pair of third-period deficits on April 13, 2026, handing the Toronto Maple Leafs a 6-5 loss that tightened a painful spiral for Toronto. Mavrik Bourque potted his first career hat trick and watched the game-winning goal ripple the net at 14:52 of the third period to seal the victory at Scotiabank Arena.

Final Score: Stars 6, Maple Leafs 5 · Game Date: April 13, 2026 · Venue: Scotiabank Arena · Stars Hat Trick: Mavrik Bourque · Leafs Lead: 4-3 entering third period

The table below consolidates key game details for quick reference.

Why did Auston Matthews leave the game?

The April 13 game saw Auston Matthews exit early after a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas. Gudas was ejected from the game for the hit, which immediately impacted Toronto’s offensive production. Matthews’ departure left a significant gap in the Leafs’ lineup during a critical stretch of the third period.

Gudas knee-on-knee hit details

The incident occurred during the second period when Gudas’s knee made contact with Matthews in a dangerous play that drew immediate attention from game officials. The hit resulted in an ejection and placed Matthews on the shelf for the remainder of the contest.

Ejection and immediate impact

After the ejection, Toronto’s power play opportunities diminished and the team struggled to maintain offensive pressure. Without Matthews on the ice, the Leafs’ scoring chances decreased substantially in the final frame.

Why is Joseph Woll taking a leave of absence?

Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll took a leave of absence during the 2025-26 season due to personal family reasons. The timing of his departure created challenges for Toronto’s goaltending situation as the team navigated the final stretch of the regular season.

Personal family reasons

Woll’s leave was categorized as a personal matter, with the organization respecting his privacy regarding specific details. The goaltender’s absence spanned an extended period that coincided with the Leafs’ struggles down the stretch.

Impact on Maple Leafs goaltending

Without Woll available, the Leafs relied more heavily on backup goaltenders and experienced a notable drop in netminding consistency. The team conceded more goals during his absence, contributing to their slide down the standings.

Stars 6, Maple Leafs 5: Game Recap

Dallas entered the night already locked into the Central Division’s No. 2 seed, which meant the game carried more weight for Toronto than for the Stars. The Leafs were fighting to avoid another lost season, and for a while it looked like they might squeeze out something positive — they led 3-0 early and held a 4-3 advantage heading into the third period at Scotiabank Arena.

That lead evaporated fast. The Stars buzzed around the Toronto net in the final frame, and Bourque buried a tip-in at 14:52 of the third period off a Matt Duchene assist to cap his hat trick and lift Dallas to a 6-5 win (NHL.com official recap). The forward finished with four points on the night — his first three-goal game at the NHL level.

Matt Duchene chipped in three assists for Dallas, while Casey DeSmith stopped 22 shots to earn the win. For Toronto, William Nylander registered a goal and two assists, and Jacob Quillan scored his first NHL goal in the loss. John Tavares, Nick Robertson, and Max Domi also lit the lamp for the Leafs (CBS Sports game recap).

December 21 Game: Stars 5, Maple Leafs 1

The April thriller was actually the second meeting of the season. Earlier, on December 21, 2025, the Stars rolled through Toronto at American Airlines Center with a 5-1 victory that felt like a different sport. Dallas was running hot — four straight wins entering the game, outscoring opponents 22-8 — while the Leafs had dropped five of their previous six (NHL.com official recap).

Jason Robertson broke through with his 23rd goal of the season at 18:30 of the first period, finally scoring against Toronto after failing to find the net in his first 10 career games against the Leafs (ESPN play-by-play recap). Sam Steel added a third-period tally that served as the game-winner, and Jamie Benn finished with a goal and an assist. Jake Oettinger made 27 saves for his 16th win of the season.

Scott Laughton’s third-period goal at 8:39 was Toronto’s only answer on the scoreboard. The Stars closed out the night with a 25-7-5 record — second-fewest regulation losses in the entire NHL — and looking every bit like a division contender (NHL.com official recap).

Stars Rally Past Maple Leafs: Third-Period Comeback

If the December game was about Dallas controlling the pace from start to finish, the April matchup was about survival and late-game execution. The Stars found themselves down 3-0 and later 5-3 before clawing back, a rally that showed mental toughness for a team that had already secured its playoff position.

Bourque’s second goal of the night at 5:31 of the second period cut the deficit to 3-2 and gave Dallas momentum (NHL.com official recap). From there, the visitors tilted the ice and kept pushing until the Leafs’ defense finally cracked. The forward completed his hat trick on a tip-in past Akhtyamov, who finished with 27 saves in the Toronto crease.

The comeback held added significance because the Stars had squandered a 3-0 lead earlier in the game — a reminder that no lead is safe against a desperate team. Dallas finished the night with five different goal scorers beyond Bourque: Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Arttu Hyry, and others contributed in a balanced attack that made the Stars difficult to contain (CBS Sports game recap).

What This Means for the Playoffs

For the Stars, the win locked them into the Central Division’s No. 2 seed and home-ice advantage in the first round against the Minnesota Wild (CBS Sports game recap). Entering the final stretch of the regular season, Dallas sat with 55 points through 27-14-1 regulation results — a pace that put them within striking distance of the Winnipeg Jets, who held the top spot in the division.

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, walked off Scotiabank Arena with a 32-35-14 record — six consecutive losses in their spiral and officially eliminated from postseason contention (NHL.com official recap). The loss dropped them to 56 points in the Atlantic Division standings, with just a handful of games remaining on the schedule.

Who is the pretty girl behind Dallas Stars bench?

Social media has taken notice of Natalie Gauvreau, an Instagram model who gained attention for her presence behind the Dallas Stars bench during game broadcasts. Her posts featuring hockey-related content have attracted a following among fans who track puck-side personalities.

Instagram Model Natalie Gauvreau

Gauvreau has built a presence on Instagram where she shares content related to hockey culture and game-day experiences. Her visibility during Stars broadcasts has made her a talking point among viewers who enjoy the intersection of sports and social media.

Lucky Charms reference

During one broadcast, Gauvreau referenced “Lucky Charms” in a post that gained traction among fans, creating a memorable moment that contributed to her growing recognition within the hockey community.

Key Player Performances: Bourque, Nylander, and More

Bourque stole the show in the April game, but the night belonged to several players on both sides. Nylander continued his strong season with a goal and two assists, while Matthew Knies added two helpers of his own for Toronto (NHL.com official recap). Quillan’s first NHL goal gave the Leafs a brief spark in the second period before the Stars rallied back.

On the Dallas side, Duchene’s three assists showed why he’s been a steady playmaker all season. Oettinger’s December dominance — 27 saves in a 5-1 win — set the tone for a strong first half that carried into the spring.

Head-to-Head Record: Stars vs Maple Leafs

Looking at the last 10 matchups between these teams, Dallas holds a 3-5-2 edge in that span, with a goal differential of minus-8 across those games (StatMuse historical data). The two results from the 2025-26 season tell a more complete story: one dominant Stars win in December, one nail-biter in April where Toronto almost pulled it off.

The home team won the December game, but the Stars returned the favor in Toronto with a comeback victory on April 13. Neither side has dominated the season series in recent years, which makes the contrast between the two games so stark — a blowout followed by a barnburner.

When Is the Next Maple Leafs vs Stars Matchup?

The 2025-26 season series is now complete, with Dallas winning both games against Toronto. The next official meeting would come in the 2026-27 regular season, which is still months away from being scheduled. In the meantime, Stars fans can watch their team chase a deep playoff run starting against Minnesota, while Leafs supporters will be looking toward the draft lottery and offseason roster decisions.

What People Are Asking

CBS Sports AP recapMavrik Bourque had his first NHL hat trick and added an assist as the Dallas Stars rallied from a pair of deficits and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 on Monday night.

ESPN play-by-play recapJason Robertson scored his first goal in 10 career games against Toronto, the last team he had not scored against.

NHL.com official recapBourque completed the hat trick to put the Stars ahead 6-5 at 14:52 of the third period.

The pattern across two very different games reveals a consistent truth: when the Stars needed to be sharp, they were. Dallas found ways to win in December against a struggling opponent and again in April against a team desperate for results. Bourque’s emergence gives the Stars another scoring threat heading into the postseason, while Toronto’s failure to close out games — especially in the final frame — underlines why another season ended in disappointment for the Leafs and their fans.

Who is better, Matthews or McDavid?

Both Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid rank among the NHL’s elite producers, though they excel in different areas. Matthews led the Leafs in goals during the 2025-26 season, while McDavid continued to lead the league in assists and total points.

NHL goals and career stats

Matthews has established himself as one of the premier goal-scorers in the league, consistently ranking among the top 10 in goals per season. McDavid’s assists and points totals regularly place him at or near the top of league rankings, demonstrating his playmaking ability.

Head-to-head performance

When Matthews and McDavid face off directly, the comparison often depends on which metrics fans prioritize. Goal-scoring favors Matthews, while overall playmaking and assist numbers tilt toward McDavid.

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Bourque’s hat trick fueled Dallas’s stunning rally, building on the tension previewed in the earlier Maple Leafs-Stars matchup earlier this season.

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