Robertson leads the Stars in goals and assists

Jason Robertson leads the Stars in assists.
That's right, assists. Known as a high-volume shooter and one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, Robertson's performance on Thursday in a 10-4 win at Buffalo underscored just what a great playmaker he is. He had three helpers, all first assists that led directly to goals, and that gives him 45 on the season, three ahead of Joe Pavelski.

"Those terms are weird, like playmaker," Robertson said. "I just think I'm a player who makes plays. And plays aren't just getting assists, it's making a poised play on the breakout, scoring, setting guys up, putting pucks in good spots, just making those small plays that are very subtle."
His dishes on Thursday were both subtle and spectacular.
On the team's second goal, Robertson was playing the half wall on the power play. He tried to send a pass to Jamie Benn below the goal line, and Buffalo deflected the pass. But Robertson raced in, grabbed the loose puck, spun, and found Pavelski open in the right circle. Pavelski then hammered home a goal. It was an impressive display of sticking with a broken play and knowing where his teammates are.
On the team's fourth goal, a puck went hard into the corner and took a strange carom straight to Robertson to the right of the goal. He swiftly dished a backhand to Joel Kiviranta behind him, and Kiviranta pumped in his seventh goal of the season. The pass was perfect because it was quick and landed right on the sweet spot of Kiviranta's stick.
Then, on the Stars' ninth goal, Robertson's assist was again magnificent. With the top line on a cycling forecheck, Pavelski tipped a puck to Robertson, and Robertson slipped a beautiful backhand to a wide open Roope Hintz, who whipped in his 31st goal of the season.
"He's got an offensive mind," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "I think he's an underrated playmaker. Everyone sees the shot and the way he scores goals, but that part of his game is underrated. He knows how to make plays. The whole no-look pass to Kiviranta was probably a good example of an elite offensive mind."
Robertson said he simply wants to follow the basics, keep his head on a swivel and try to help his teammates.
"I've always had that instinct of knowing where everybody is on the ice and trying to get it to them," he said. "I like to make plays out there. If I'm not scoring, I like to set guys up."
Right now, he's doing both. Robertson leads the Stars in goal scoring at 38 (eighth in the league) and in shots on goal at 262 (sixth overall). He has 83 points, already a career-best, and has 17 games remaining to catch Mike Modano for most points in a season since the team moved to Dallas in 1993 (93 points).
If he gets there, you can bet the assists will be a big part.
Injury Update
Stars forward Tyler Seguin suffered a lower body injury early in the Buffalo game and was on crutches after the game. The Stars didn't skate on Friday and Seguin was not on the ice Saturday morning. He is officially listed as day-to-day.
"He's obviously not out here," DeBoer said after the morning skate. "Anybody out here on the ice, Glendening, Wedgewood, is getting closer. Tyler is not, so that would tell you he's not close."
Luke Glendening and Scott Wedgewood are each dealing with injuries and could be back at some point on this six-game road trip.
"They're both getting better," DeBoer said. "They wouldn't be on the trip if we didn't think they were options at some point. Again, on the day-to-day progress of it, they're both trending the right way."
Fredrik Olofsson will sub in with Seguin out. He has played 20 games this year and has a goal and three assists.
Key Numbers
16-13-3
Seattle ranks 21st in home record at 16-13-3. The Kraken are 21-9-3 on the road.
7
Stars forward Max Domi has 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in four career games against Seattle.
19
Seattle's Matty Beniers leads all NHL rookies in goals (19) and points (47). Stars forward Wyatt Johnston ranks third in goals (16) and fifth in points (30) among NHL rookies.
He said it
"The biggest thing is just confidence. We went a good stretch there where it didn't feel like we had that swagger to score, even though we were creating opportunities. Once you get that swagger, you want to keep it."
- Stars coach Pete DeBoer on how he hopes a 10-4 win in Buffalo on Thursday can help the Stars' confidence.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Dadonov
Marchment-Domi-Dellandrea
Kiviranta-Faksa-Olofsson
Heiskanen-Miller
Lindell-Hakanpää
Suter-Hanley
Oettinger
Murray
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.