Home sweet home ice? The Dallas Stars faced elimination in a do-or-die Game 7 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars dethroned the Golden Knights with a 3-2 win at the American Airlines Center, winning the series in seven games.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Radek Faksa, Craig Smith, Sam Steel, Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 21 saves for a win. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill made 22 saves in a losing effort.
After a failed power play and nearly 14 scoreless minutes of gameplay, Dallas opened the first-period scoring. Wyatt Johnston fired a wrist shot into the Golden Knights’ net for a 1-0 lead at 14:34. Johnston’s unassisted goal was his fourth of the playoffs.
The Stars led the Golden Knights 1-0 at the end of the first period. Shots were tied 7-7 after 20 minutes.
The Golden Knights finally got on the board late in the second period. Brett Howden scored a tip-in goal to tie the game 1-1 at 15:25. Michael Amadio and William Karlsson collected the assists on Howden’s first of the playoffs.
The Stars and Golden Knights were tied 1-1 at the end of two periods. Vegas outshot Dallas 15-14 through 40 minutes.
The Stars took a one-goal lead, thanks to a veteran forward who was added to Sunday’s lineup. Radek Faksa ripped a backhand shot into the Golden Knights’ net to give the Stars a 2-1 lead just 44 seconds into the third period. Craig Smith and Thomas Harley collected the assists on Faksa’s first of the playoffs.
The Golden Knights pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, but couldn’t score a game-tying goal to force overtime against the Stars.
The Stars held on for a 3-2 win over the Golden Knights at the end of regulation. Dallas outshot Vegas 24-22 after 60 minutes.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Radek Faksa (1 point: 1 goal)
2. Jake Oettinger (1.00 GAA and .955 SV%)
3. Wyatt Johnston (1 point: 1 goal)
Star Power
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was in attendance. Romo played for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2016.
Pregame Update
Radek Faksa was in, while Ty Dellandrea was out, according to the Stars’ senior staff writer Mike Heika.
Up Next
The Stars will face the Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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