Pavelski turning back clock for Stars with hot start 

EDMONTON -- Whatever fountain of youth Joe Pavelski is drinking from, the rest of his Dallas Stars teammates want in.

The 39-year-old forward is off to an outstanding start in his 18th NHL season, with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in nine games. Pavelski had a goal and two assists for Dallas in a 4-3 victory against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Thursday, including setting up Roope Hintz for the game-winner at 2:37 of the third period.

“I have to get the same water tap that he’s got,” Stars goalie Scott Wedgewood said. “He’s a very smart player. I think if anything is going to be said about him, people might take away his speed, but he’s not late on plays, he’s in the right spot and he’s smart about it. He knows when to take his chances, he knows where the play is going to go, anticipation, and you don’t get that without playing 1,000 games and getting 1,000 points and it’s a credit to his craft.

“He’s just a world-class player, a world-class human and I’m glad he’s on our side.”

Pavelski is in his fifth season with the Stars after playing his first 13 in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks. He was selected by the Sharks in the seventh round (No. 205) of the 2003 NHL Draft and has gone on to play 1,259 games with 1,011 points (453 goals, 558 assists). He also has 139 points (73 goals, 66 assists) in 182 playoff games.

“He’s just smart,” Dallas forward Matt Duchene said. “People say you have to be fast playing today’s game and he’s a guy that’s always been a middle of-the-pack skater, but it doesn’t matter, he’s so smart and he knows how to get places and make plays.

“The pass he makes to Roope there, that’s elite, that’s as good as it gets in this league. He’s played the same style of game his whole career and he takes care of himself, he works hard, he loves the game and he tries to get better all the time. That’s what it takes. You see a lot of guys at that age and even younger, kind of shut off to loving the game and he loves the game and it’s great to see.”

Pavelski is playing on the Stars’ No. 1 line with Hintz at center and Jason Robertson on left wing. The three combined for seven points against the Oilers, with Dallas building a 4-1 lead and holding on in the third period to win the second game of a back-to-back set after winning 4-3 at the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. The Stars (7-1-1) have won three in a row.

“It’s coming. There’s been times where it could be a little better from a line and what we expect of each other,” Pavelski said. “There’s definitely more out there for us and the last little bit you can tell it’s coming, and tonight there were good support plays and his (Hintz's) speed and the way he can finish off rushes and things, it makes it easy and creates some space. It was good night for him.”

In 18:08 of ice time against Edmonton, Pavelski had three shots on goal and was 9-for-15 on face-offs. He had one assist in 13:56 of ice time against Calgary.

“I feel good, I’m playing with some good players and getting in some good spots,” Pavelski said. “For me, it’s supporting those guys finding holes and kind of what I’ve done the last couple of years with them. I think our game is definitely building. I think tonight we had some good chemistry along the way and it’s fun playing with those guys.”

Pavelski scored at 3:25 of the second period to give Dallas a 2-1 lead, one-timing a cross-ice pass from Hintz on a 3-on-1 rush. Pavelski got an assist on a power-play goal by Hintz at 16:06, poking a pass from Miro Heiskanen on net. Pavelski’s shot was stopped, but Hintz scored on the rebound.

“Just when he looks like the end might be coming up, he comes out and gets one (goal) and two (assists),” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “He’s just an amazing athlete and always in big moments, too. We’re in a back-to-back, you think he’d be the one guy that probably wouldn’t have an impact on the game tonight, based on his age, and he’s one of the best players out there. That tells you the story.”

Pavelski signed a three-year free agent contract with Dallas on July 1, 2019, and then consecutive one-year deals on March 11, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2023.

“He’s a driver, a motivator, he’s a guy the group rallies around,” DeBoer said. “He’s a leader for us, he does it all.”