DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen’s final-round score was the only goal of the shootout and Jake Oettinger made 27 saves as the Dallas Stars beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Sunday night.
After Rantanen beat Tristan Jarry stick side, Oettinger stopped Kris Letang to end the game and record his league-high 14th win.
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A scoreboard graphic is shown recognizing former Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks prior to an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) is defended by Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) is congratulated by teammates on his bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) looks back after allowing a goal to Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (not shown) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen scored 6-on-5 to tie the score 2-2 with 1:49 left in regulation and Jamie Benn also scored for the Stars, who have won three consecutive games and are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games.
Dallas' 45 points are second in the league but three behind NHL-best Colorado in the Central Division.
Thomas Novak and fourth-liner Connor Dewar scored for the Penguins, who are 0-4 in shootouts this season. Jarry, who stopped 21 shots, lost for the first time in his last five starts.
Penguins star Evgeni Malkin, whose 29 points are second to Sidney Crosby’s 30 on the team this season, missed his first game this season. Malkin is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Heiskanen has scored in three straight games for the first time in his eight NHL seasons.
Benn, Dallas’ captain, has four goals and nine points in 11 games after missing the Stars’ first 19 games following late-September surgery for a collapsed lung.
Dallas killed both power plays by Pittsburgh’s league-leading unit, extending its streak of successful kills to 27 dating to Nov. 22.
Stars forward Matt Duchene, who led Dallas last season with 82 points, and defenseman Nils Lundkvist returned after both were sidelined by injury since mid-October.
A moment of silence was observed before the game for former Stars owner Tom Hicks, who died Saturday at age 79. Hicks owned the franchise 1995-2011, with Dallas winning the 1999 Stanley Cup.
Penguins: Begin a season-long five-game homestand on Tuesday against Anaheim.
Stars: Take a 10-1-4 road record to Winnipeg on Tuesday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
A scoreboard graphic is shown recognizing former Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks prior to an NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) is defended by Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) is congratulated by teammates on his bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) looks back after allowing a goal to Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (not shown) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — This wasn't a typical Broncos game. For the first time this season, they didn't trail, and the final minutes were not overly stressful.
What was typical? They won again.
Bo Nix passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and Denver extended its winning streak to 10 games, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 on Sunday, a score that wasn't reflective of the Broncos' dominance.
“It did not feel like some of these other (games) recently,” coach Sean Payton said. “My headset was off earlier.”
The Raiders lost quarterback Geno Smith, who injured his right hand and shoulder in the third quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett. Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said Smith's hand was cut and his shoulder “really locked up” but there didn't appear to be significant damage.
The Broncos (11-2) appear to be on the verge of ending Kansas City's nine-year reign in the AFC West, and they tied idle New England for the top seed in the conference. Denver owns the tiebreaker because of its 6-0 record against common opponents; the Patriots lost to the Raiders.
The Broncos ended their NFL record of rallying for nine consecutive victories — this time, they only had to pull away from an early 7-7 tie. Denver has its best record through 13 games since 2013.
The Broncos have their skeptics, however, given how many victories they've had to eke out, and beating up on the free-falling Raiders likely won't silence the doubters.
“Ten in a row's a long streak,” Nix said. “You want to be appreciative of this opportunity and appreciative of the wins no matter how they come. But at the same time, we're always looking to get better.”
The Raiders (2-11) have lost seven in a row and 11 of 12. Las Vegas also has lost 11 consecutive divisional games, the league's longest active skid.
Statistics pointed to a potential mismatch with the Broncos bringing in a top-five defense against a Raiders offense that's at or near the bottom of several statistical categories. Denver held the ball for 39:03 and gained 356 yards with 27 first downs. The Raiders had 229 yards and 16 first downs.
Nix was highly efficient, completing 31 of 38 passes.
Nik Bonitto had two sacks, giving him 12 1/2 for the season. He is the first Denver player with double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons since Von Miller did it five straight times from 2014-18.
Smith was 13 of 21 for 116 yards and a touchdown. Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a TD.
“I've seen a lot of Kenny in practice,” Carroll said. “He's active, he's quick, he's really athletic, he's a good thinker, he's clearly a competitive guy. I see nothing but positive stuff. I'm coaching the hell out of him because I want him to be ready if the opportunity pops.”
Maxx Crosby had two tackles for loss, giving him 25 for the season to break his team record of 23 set three years ago.
Each team had just one possession in the first quarter — and made them count.
The Broncos opened with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took 8:54, with Nix running in from 8 yards to complete the series. Then the Raiders took the remaining time off the clock, with Smith hitting Brock Bowers for a 15-yard TD.
That was the first opening-series touchdown the Broncos have allowed this season. It also was the first opening Las Vegas drive to go the distance since the first game at New England.
Both offenses had their difficulties in the second quarter, with the only score coming on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown by Denver's Marvin Mims Jr.
RJ Harvey's 3-yard scoring run late in the third period gave Denver what seemed like an almost insurmountable two-touchdown lead. Harvey has five TD runs this season and four through the air.
Daniel Carlson's 46-yard field goal on the final play gave a particularly nasty beat to Broncos bettors. Denver was favored by 7 1/2 points at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Carlson would never have had a shot at the field goal if Broncos safety Brandon Jones hadn't drawn a delay-of-game penalty for not allowing wide receiver Tyler Lockett to get up after a 26-yard gain. That penalty stopped the clock with 5 seconds remaining.
“We're going to run the clock out,” Payton said. “That wasn't real smart.”
Broncos: DT D.J. Jones (ankle) and TE Nate Adkins (knee) did not play.
Raiders: CB Kyu Blu Kelly (knee), who leads the team with three interceptions, was injured early in the second quarter. ... TE Ian Thomas (calf) was hurt in the fourth quarter. ... TE Michael Mayer (ankle) and WRs Alex Bachman (thumb) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (concussion) did not play.
Broncos: Host Green Bay next Sunday.
Raiders: Visit Philadelphia next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, middle, is carted off the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) passes against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) scores in front of Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
Denver Broncos' Marvin Mims Jr., middle, is congratulated by teammates after returning a punt for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
