Lukas Dostal has 24 saves as Ducks beat Stars 3-1 to snap nine-game skid

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Kreider and Beckett Sennecke scored goals, Lukas Dostal survived a barrage of shots in the final minutes, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 on Tuesday night to snap a nine-game skid.

Jacob Trouba also scored for Anaheim, and Dostal stopped 24 shots — many of them from point-blank range after Dallas pulled the goalie twice in the final minutes. The Ducks were 0-8-1 since a 4-1 win against Columbus on Dec. 20.

Roope Hintz scored for Dallas and Casey DeSmith had 22 saves. The Stars lost for the fourth time in six games (2-2-2).

Hintz’s snap from the slot with a man advantage pulled the Stars to 2-1 with 2:12 left in the third, but Trouba sealed the Ducks' win with an empty netter the length of the ice with 20.5 seconds remaining.

The Ducks had given up five goals or more in each of their last five games, and they played one of the NHL’s best teams without their three top point scorers in Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and Cutter Gauthier, who sat out because of injury or illness.

But they rediscovered some of their early season mojo, out-skating, out-hitting and out-hustling the Stars for much of the game and taking advantage of a delayed penalty call on Kyle Capobianco to score their first goal in the second period.

Dostal skated to the bench, giving the Ducks a man advantage. Mikael Granlund took a blue-line pass from Radko Gudas at the bottom of the right circle and found a wide open Kreider, who beat DeSmith stick-side with a snap shot from the high slot for a 1-0 lead 3:36 into the period.

Anaheim appeared to push the lead to 2-0 when Alex Killorn took a spectacular backhand pass from Ryan Poehling and scored a short-handed goal with 39.8 seconds left in the second, but Poehling crashed into DeSmith and into the net, and the goal was waved off because of interference.

With 7:58 left in the third, Sennecke gathered the rebound of Granlund's shot that caromed off the end board and toward the left post. Sennecke shielded himself from a defender and backhanded an unassisted goal past DeSmith for a 2-0 lead.

Ducks: At Los Angeles on Friday night.

Stars: At Utah on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/nhl

Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith turns around to see a shot by Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish go wide of the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, behind, scores a goal as Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith, left, and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, center, shoots as Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith, left, and defenseman Alexander Petrovic defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, left, celebrates his goal with teammate left wing Alex Killorn during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, center, celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers reserve center Yang Hansen walked off the court on his own after a scary collision and head injury midway through the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

Hansen scrambled for a loose ball under the Blazers' basket with 6:55 remaining and was trying to pass it out when Golden State's Will Richard made contact to the back of Hansen's head with his knee.

The Chinese big man was down grasping the back of his head for several minutes. His interpreter and medical staff rushed out to check on him and Hansen eventually was able to stand up and was escorted to the locker room. He then returned to the bench about 90 seconds later and played again.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen, front right, dives for the ball against Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen holds the net during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)