Viktor Arvidsson hat trick leads Bruins past Stars

BOSTON — The Bruins used a dominant third period to move a little closer to a playoff berth. Viktor Arvidsson had a hat trick that included two empty-net goals and David Pastrnak added three assists as Boston pulled away for a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday at TD Garden. The win combined with help from games around the league further solidified the Bruins’ playoff position at 43-24-8 (94 points).

Boston now heads on the road for a four-game road trip beginning at Florida on Thursday night. The Bruins used the momentum of a strong penalty kill just before the midway point of the first period to jump-start their offense. Just 30 seconds after Nikita Zadorov’s interference penalty ended, Jake Oettinger stopped Henri Jokiharju’s one-timer, but Marat Khusnutdinov knocked home the rebound to put Boston up 1-0, with 10:02 left in the period.

Goal number two came two seconds after a Bruins power play ended. Pastrnak passed the puck from behind the net to Arvidsson off the left post. Arvidsson tapped it in to make it 2-0 with 1:09 left in the first.

Jamie Benn got Dallas on the board early in the second, tucking a puck behind Joonas Korpisalo, 4:49 into the second. Korpisalo stoned Jason Robertson on a breakaway with 5:39 left, but he couldn’t stop Matt Duchene from the doorstep as Dallas tied the game with 3:07 left in the second. But the pendulum swung back toward Boston to start the third.