West-leading Stars wrap up playoff spot, beating Canucks 3-1 for 6th straight victory

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists and the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars wrapped up a playoff spot, beating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.

“You have to do a lot of work, starting six, seven months ago, to give yourself the opportunity to be one of those 16 teams that plays for the Stanley Cup,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “So, I’m just proud of our group. You go through all kinds of adversity through the year, injuries and different things, but we found a way every week to find a way to wins games.”

Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shot to help Dallas improve to 46-19-9 and open a three-point lead over second-place Vancouver in the West.

“It felt like a playoff game,” Oettinger said. “They’re a great team, obviously, over there. They’ve been one of the best teams in the league all year and there’s just not a lot of flaws in that team. So just a good measuring stick and obviously we know what’s at stake. Just to get a gritty win like that is huge.”

Jamie Benn added a goal and an an assist, Jason Robertson had an empty-netter and Joe Pavelski had two assists. Dallas went 2 for 5 on the power play, while Vancouver was 0 for 3.

A “mechanical” power play and careless penalties proved costly for the Canucks, said coach Rick Tocchet.

“I think guys will be disappointed,” he said. “You’re looking for somebody to make a play or maybe a little more discipline. Maybe that’s the difference in the game. These games are coin flips.”

J.T. Miller scored for Vancouver, and Casey DeSmith made 31 saves.

“This is the kind of hockey it’s probably going to be the rest of the way, the kind of hockey it is around the league right now,” DeSmith said. “Everyone’s just trying to buckle down and play the right way, do the right things. I thought we did that for most of the night. Obviously, special teams was the difference.”

Benn gave Dallas a 2-1 lead on a power play with 3:08 left, scoring a snap shot from the slot. The Stars captain has points in eight straight games and goals in six.

Hintz opened the scoring on a power late in the first period. Miller tied it midway through the second, sending a one-timer flying past Oettinger for his 35th.

Vancouver pulled DeSmith late for an extra attacker, only to see Hintz win a neutral-zone puck battle that led to Robertson tucking a shot into the empty net for his 27th.

UP NEXT

Stars: At Seattle on Saturday night.

Canucks: Host Anaheim on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Dallas Stars' Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Jamie Benn and Jason Robertson, from left, celebrate Benn's goal as Vancouver Canucks' Dakota Joshua, front left, and Tyler Myers skate to the bench during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

The puck deflects wide of the goal as Vancouver Canucks' Tyler Myers (57) defends against Dallas Stars' Radek Faksa (12) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Chris Tanev (3) is checked by Vancouver Canucks' Arshdeep Bains (80) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29) stops Dallas Stars' Matt Duchene, left, and Wyatt Johnston, back right, as Canucks' Carson Soucy (7) and Tyler Myers (57) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Filip Hronek (17) checks Dallas Stars' Mason Marchment (27) as Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Wyatt Johnston (53) collides with Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith and is given a goalie interference penalty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland, right, checks Dallas Stars' Logan Stankoven during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz, right, vies for the puck against Vancouver Canucks' Teddy Blueger, bottom, and Dakota Joshua, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz (24), Jamie Benn (14) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz's goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen (4), Jamie Benn (14), Roope Hintz (24) and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate Hintz's goal as Vancouver Canucks' Ian Cole (82) and goalie Casey DeSmith (29) react during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Logan Stankoven, left, lines up for a faceoff against Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller (9) jumps in front of Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger (29) as Esa Lindell (23) watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14) is congratulated for a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Carson Soucy, front right, shoves Dallas Stars' Joe Pavelski during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz, back center, scores against Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn, back right, celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with Joe Pavelski, Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, left, and Chris Tanev celebrate the team's win over the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Rwanda-backed rebels who captured key areas of Congo's mineral-rich east said Monday they were withdrawing from peace talks this week with the Congolese government, saying that international sanctions on the group's members have undermined such dialogue.

The talks scheduled to start in the Angolan capital, Luanda, on Tuesday “have become impracticable” as a result of the sanctions announced by the European Union against some of its members on Monday, M23 rebel group’s spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement. Alleged offensives still being carried out in the conflict-hit region by Congo's military also undermine the talks, he said.

“Consequently, our organization can no longer continue to participate in the discussions,” he added.

Congo's government, after initially rejecting such talks, said Monday that it would participate in the dialogue in Angola. A delegation representing Congo has already traveled to Luanda for the talks, Tina Salama, the spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi, told The Associated Press. Tshisekedi had earlier refused direct negotiations with the rebels.

M23 also initially had sent a delegation to Luanda, the group's spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said on the X platform on Monday.

The conflict in eastern Congo escalated in January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma, followed by Bukavu in February.

Angola, which has acted as a mediator in the conflict, announced last week that it would host direct peace negotiations between Congo and M23 on Tuesday.

Peace talks between Congo and Rwanda were unexpectedly canceled in December after Rwanda made the signing of a peace agreement conditional on a direct dialogue between Congo and the M23 rebels, which Congo refused.

“A dialogue with a terrorist group like the M23 is a red line that we will never cross,” Tshisekedi said during a speech to the diplomatic corps on Jan. 18.

M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, about 1,575 kilometers (978 miles) to the east.

The U.N. Human Rights Council last month launched a commission to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killing akin to “summary executions” by both sides.

International pressure is growing on Rwanda as the European Union sanctioned five Rwandan nationals, including the commander of Rwandan special forces deployed in eastern Congo. On Monday, Rwanda cut diplomatic ties with Belgium and ordered all its diplomats to leave, a month after Brussels suspended development aid to the East African country. Rwandan President Paul Kagame had accused Belgium of “destroying” Rwanda in a speech on Sunday.

The U.S. State Department said last week it was open to a mining partnership in Congo and has confirmed that preliminary discussions had begun.

On Sunday, Tshisekedi met with the U.S. special envoy to Congo, Rep. Ronny Jackson, to discuss potential security and economic partnerships.

“We want to work together so that American companies can invest and work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and for that we have to make sure there is a peace in the country,” Jackson told reporters after the meeting.

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Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, Belgium and Ignatius Ssuuna in Kigali, Rwanda contributed to this report.

FILE - Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, file)