Stars' Jason Robertson breaks slump with Game 3 hat trick in win against Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers had a dominant first period Monday night, outshooting the Dallas Stars 10-3 and leading 2-0 on a goal and assist from captain Connor McDavid.

But the Stars staged a stunning comeback, beating the Oilers 5-3, led by a standout who hadn't scored a goal in 10 games and aided by a player who had missed the previous four games.

Forward Jason Robertson broke his goal-scoring slump in a major way, getting a hat trick as injured linemate Roope Hintz returned to the lineup from an upper-body injury. The Stars grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final.

The speedy Hintz made two solid plays on Robertson's first goal.

He hustled to keep the puck in the offensive zone in the second period, stopping it just before it crossed the blue line. He ended up with the puck again near the goal line, skated out and fed Robertson, who had last scored in Game 5 of the first round.

"It was great to be back and see that he got goals, too," Hintz told TNT.

Robertson tied the game at 8:05, also assisted by Hintz, when he beat Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner on a backhander with traffic in front.

Wyatt Johnson gave Dallas the lead, but Edmonton's Adam Henrique (also back from an injury) tied it up with 53 seconds left in the second period.

The Stars outshot the Oilers 16-7 in the second period.

"They had a push there at the beginning of the second period and our response took a little too long," Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse told reporters.

Jason Robertson completes hat trick for game-winner

The Stars took advantage of Esa Lindell's broken stick in the third period and got the puck down low to Robertson.

He waited out Skinner in the third period and banked in a shot from a tough angle for a 4-3 lead that the Stars later added to with a Miro Heiskanen empty-netter.

"I don't know if I would have done that if I hadn't scored two goals," Robertson told Sportsnet.

Robertson, who had eight assists during the goal drought, picked up his first career postseason hat trick.

"I got the first one, and then I'm like OK, I'm going to shoot everything, so it's one of those things where you gain confidence," he said.

Robertson said Hintz made a big difference in the game.

"You know when he's on the ice," he said. "You can see that speed. That's just a fantastic job coming in ice cold with almost two weeks off."

Oilers caught by surprise by Stars' second period

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said the team thought "it would continue sailing" as it had in the first period and was caught by surprise by the Stars' surge.

"I don't know where those 10 to 15 minutes come from, but it's as bad as it's been throughout the playoffs," McDavid said.

The Oilers will need to figure it out before Game 4 at home on Wednesday especially since the Stars are 6-1 on the road this postseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stars-Oilers Game 3: Jason Robertson hat trick leads Dallas win