Wyatt Johnston's two goals lead Stars past Kraken 4-1

DALLAS (AP) — Wyatt Johnston scored his 30th and 31st goals of the season as the Dallas Stars beat the Seattle Kraken 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and Sam Steel also scored for the Stars, who have won seven consecutive games for the first time since last March 22 to April 3.

Johnston scored his 19th power-play goal — the most in the NHL this season and setting a Dallas season record — for a 4-0 lead. He has three consecutive 30-goal seasons and five multigoal games this season. Hitting pipes twice in the third period kept him from a fifth career regular-season hat trick.

Dallas goalie Casey DeSmith, backup to Team USA’s Jake Oettinger, made 18 saves. DeSmith went into play sixth in the NHL with a 2.37 goals-against average.

Defenseman Ryker Evans scored a third-period goal, and Joey Daccord stopped 28 shots for the Kraken.

Johnston put Dallas ahead 1-0 with 1:19 left in the first period on a deflection at the net. His second score, midway through the second period, went off his leg after a shot from the slot by Miro Heiskanen initially grazed Evans’ stick.

Duchene’s goal, the first of three second-period Dallas goals, gives him seven goals in the last seven games. Steel jammed the puck between Daccord’s pads about four minutes later, and the goal was upheld following Seattle’s challenge for goaltender interference.

Thomas Harley, who played for Canada’s silver medal team in the Olympics, had two assists.

The Kraken lost defenseman Ryan Lindgren after only two shifts following a violent collision with Stars forward Colin Blackwell.

Dallas swept the three-game season series for the third consecutive season.

Kraken: Complete a road back-to-back at St. Louis on Thursday, their fifth straight road game since Jan. 31.

Stars: Host Nashville on Saturday.

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

Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton, left, is slammed against the boards by Dallas Stars' Thomas Harley (55) as Matt Duchene (95) skates past in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson falls backwards over Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, center rear, as Vince Dunn (29) and Brandon Montour (62) help defend the net in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) and Dallas Stars' Colin Blackwell (15) collide as they compete in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars' Wyatt Johnston (53) and Jason Robertson celebrate Johnston's goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken in Dallas, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points, Ryan Rollins added 18 and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 on Wednesday night for their fifth victory in six games.

The Cavaliers appeared to tie it on Jarrett Allen’s basket underneath at the buzzer, but it was ruled that time had expired. Allen had 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland was without James Harden after he broke his right thumb Tuesday night in a home victory over New York. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley also sat out, with Mitchell nursing a strained right groin. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th consecutive game for the Bucks because of a strained right calf.

Jaylon Tyson pulled the Cavaliers to 116-114 with two free throws. After Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma missed a 3-pointer, Dennis Schroder scored from the right side of the lane to tie it 116 with 35.6 seconds left. Porter hit a free-throw line jumper to put the Bucks up 118-116 with 20.2 seconds remaining.

Schroder, acquired from Sacramento on Feb. 1, had 26 points, his most in nine games with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland lost for the second time in 10 games to drop into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York.

Cavaliers: At Detroit on Friday night.

Bucks: Host New York on Friday night.

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

Cleveland Cavaliers' Keon Ellis (14) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. (7) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Dennis Schröder during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Dennis Schröder and Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green go after a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Dennis Schröder (8) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Ousmane Dieng during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jaylon Tyson, right, drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)