Robertson scores twice, Oettinger earns shutout as Stars beat Rangers 2-0 and clinch 2nd in Central

DALLAS (AP) — Jason Robertson scored a power-play goal midway through the third period and added an empty-netter in the final minute while Jake Oettinger made 22 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Dallas Stars beat the New York Rangers 2-0 on Saturday and clinched second place in the Central Division.

The Stars were already assured of facing the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the NHL playoffs. They secured the position late in the third period when the Wild lost in regulation to the Nashville Predators.

Robertson collected a rebound of Matt Duchene’s shot and flipped a backhander into the far side to beat Igor Shesterkin with 7:11 left to play. Robertson has 44 goals, two short of his career high scored three years ago.

Duchene assisted on both goals.

It was Oettinger’s 34th win of the season. He was on the U.S. men's team that Rangers coach Mike Sullivan led to the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Shesterkin stopped 17 shots while absorbing only his second regulation loss in 10 career decisions against Dallas.

The Rangers began a season-ending three-game road trip. They’re last in the Eastern Conference and will miss the playoffs for a second straight season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024.

The Rangers, with the second-best road power play in the league, went 0 for 5 with the man advantage. That included 1:02 of 5-on-3 late in the second period.

Both teams will play on the road Monday, the Rangers at Florida and the Stars at Toronto.

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

Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (22) breaks away with the puck as New York Rangers left wing Adam Sykora (38) chases him during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) and Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (22) compete for possession of the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Stars defenseman Tyler Myers (57) lies on the ice after taking a hit from New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, right, makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, gloves a shot by the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — San Antonio guard De'Aaron Fox was ruled out of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals with right ankle soreness, a huge blow to the Spurs going into the series opener against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The announcement came roughly an hour before tip-off.

Fox was averaging 18.8 points and 5.8 assists in a team-leading 33.3 minutes per game for the Spurs in these playoffs entering Monday. He was at the team's shootaround practice Monday morning and was on the court about 90 minutes before Game 1, testing the ankle to see what he could do.

“Trying to test it out," Fox said after the team's morning workout.

The test, evidently, did not go to his liking.

“It’s one of those deals where it’s not going away for as long as we’re playing, I don’t believe,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

The Thunder, meanwhile, were getting Jalen Williams back for Game 1 after he missed six games with a hamstring issue.

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

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, talks to guard Jalen Williams, left, before a news conference after Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA basketball MVP as guard Cason Wallace, back right, looks on, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a score with guard De'aaron Fox (4) during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoffs series in Minneapolis, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoffs series in Minneapolis, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)