Morning After: Jason Robertson Goes Streaking

Jason Robertson is not easily fazed. In fact, I don’t think he gets rattled by anything in the hockey world. Contract not signed, no worries, it’s just business. Miss all of training camp, not a big deal, he knows this team and his linemates, let’s run it back and pick up where the Avengers Line left off. Jinxes are not for this generation. Just ask him, which I did.

“Hey Robo, are you superstitious?”

“No, why?”

“I don’t want to mention anything happening on the ice for you, if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“You mean the fact I’ve scored points in 13 consecutive games? No problem.”

If Robertson was a baseball player, he wouldn’t care if broadcasters mentioned he was throwing a no-hitter. That’s not the way Jason rolls. 

Thirteen is considered by some to be an unlucky number, so Robo didn’t let his consecutive game point scoring streak end there. Just 8:27 into the first period, while on the power play, Robertson fed the puck perfectly to Jamie Benn in the low slot. The Captain had his first shot blocked, but pounced on the rebound and backhanded the biscuit home. With the primary assist, Robertson had created Stars history—points earned in 14 consecutive games. His night didn't end there as two lamplighters with Jake Oettinger pulled for an extra attacker blew the roof off the AAC.

The 23-year-old forward leads the NHL in goals with 18, is one point behind Connor McGregor for the league's top scorer with 34 points (18-16-34), and has just shattered Mike Modano’s 29-year-old mark for most points in a calendar month with 23 and counting. Most importantly, the Stars are 8-3-3 since Robo began the streak.

Despite scoring two crucial goals that tied the game late, team overall success comes first. The OT game-winner for Winnipeg came with #21 trying to chase down the opposition. That’s what mattered most to Robo on a record setting night. 

“It doesn’t really mean much to me. I’m just playing hockey. I pride myself on doing everything both ways, and unfortunately, I was on the wrong side of guys tonight.”

Hockey sense is a hard thing to describe but easy to spot when a player has it. Robertson isn’t the swiftest skater, best puck handler or rifle the hardest shot. But when the puck is in the offensive zone, he knows how to create results, not only for himself but for those teammates fortunate enough to be on the ice at the same time. 

The game was different 29 years ago when Dave Gagner set the old Dallas record. It was even more wide open, and offense driven during the 1985-86 season when Brian Bellows set the franchise mark with a 20-game scoring streak. If anyone can rewrite the Stars/North Stars franchise record book it’s Jason Robertson. Keep up this pace and Robertson could become the second Stars player to win the Art Ross Trophy and the first to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. All Robo does is produce and go streaking. That’s plenty good enough for everyone in Dallas right now.