Pavelski Comes up Clutch, Stars Down Flyers 5-4 in OT

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The Dallas Stars returned home to host the Philadelphia Flyers for Hall of Fame weekend, welcoming Ed Belfour and Ken Hitchcock to the HoF. Joe Pavelski played hero as the Stars downed the Flyers 5-4 in overtime at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night. Dallas improved to 3-0-1, while Philadelphia fell to 3-1-1.

The Stars’ starting lineup featured Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Ryan Suter, and Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood made 36 saves for a victory.

Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson made 20 saves in a losing effort.

The Stars got off to a fast start. Wyatt Johnston opened the game’s scoring with a goal on a flawless wrist shot for a 1-0 lead 4:02 into the first period. Jamie Benn collected the lone assist on Johnston’s first goal of his sophomore season.

The Stars doubled the lead in a short time. Tyler Seguin flipped in a backhand shot for his first goal of the season at 7:52 of the first. Ryan Suter and Miro Heiskanen collected the assists on Seguin’s goal.

The Stars’ lead was short-lived as the Flyers got on the board. Joel Farabee tipped in a shot past Scott Wedgewood to cut the Stars’ lead in half, 2-1, at 10:12 of the first. Bobby Brink and Noah Cates collected the assists on Farabee’s third of the season.

The short-handed Flyers, who were 4-on-5, tied the game. Travis Konecny scored a short-handed goal on a wrist shot on the power play at 16:35 of the first. Noah Cates collected the lone assist on Konecny’s fourth of the season.

The game was tied 2-2 after 20 minutes. Philadelphia outshot Dallas 15-6.

The Stars regained the lead to start the second period. Roope Hintz fired a wrist shot past Samuel Ersson for a 3-2 lead 30 seconds into the second. Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski collected the assists on Hintz’s second of the season.

The Stars led the Flyers 3-2 through 40 minutes. Philadelphia outshot Dallas 29-15.

The Stars took a two-goal lead midway through the third period. Jamie Benn fired a wrist shot for an insurance goal and a 4-2 lead at 10:36 of the third. Wyatt Johnston collected the lone assist on Benn’s second of the season.

But the short-handed Flyers made it a one-goal game in less than no time. Travis Konecny scored his second short-handed, power-play goal on a slap shot at 11:57 of the third. Travis Sanheim and Scott Laughton collected the assists on Konecny’s fifth of the season.

The Flyers tied the game again. Sean Walker scored a short-handed goal on a wrist shot at 12:45 of the third. Travis Sanheim collected the lone assist on Walker’s second of the season.

The game was tied 4-4 after a full 60 minutes and went to overtime. Philadelphia outshot Dallas 39-23.

The Stars came through in the overtime period. Joe Pavelski scored on a backhand shot for the go-ahead 5-4 lead 2:13 into overtime. Wyatt Johnston collected the lone assist on Pavelski’s third of the season. The Flyers finished with 40 shots compared to the Stars’ 25.

Notes
Three stars of the game
1. Joe Pavelski (two points: one goal and one assist)
2. Wyatt Johnston (three points: one goal and two assists)
3. Travis Konecny (two points: two goals)

Stars’ pregame press conference
“Yes, that’s probably the first time I’ve been recognized over Tyler Seguin.”
— Stars head coach Pete DeBoer

Stars’ expected lineup before pregame
Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski
Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Evgenii Dadonov
Mason Marchment – Matt Duchene – Tyler Seguin
Ty Dellandrea – Radek Faksa – Craig Smith

Ryan Suter – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Jani Hakanpää
Esa Lindell – Nils Lundkvist

Scott Wedgewood

Up Next
The Stars will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Central.

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Ana Kieu

Ana Kieu is a journalist by trade. Her love for sports shows in her writing, editing, and podcasting work. She writes about the NHL for Inside The Rink.

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