Joe Pavelski scored in overtime to save the Dallas Stars from being swept away in Thursday’s Western final in a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
Taking advantage of a power play following a penalty to Brayden McNabb, Pavelski fired a one-timer from the circle to the right of goaltender Adin Hill on a pass from Miro Heiskanen to register the fourth goal of his career in overtime in playoffs after 3:18 of play in overtime.
The 38-year-old veteran has become the leader among active players in terms of playoff goals. He has 73, one more than Alex Ovechkin and two more than Sidney Crosby.
“I appreciate them even more [qu’à mes débuts], mentioned Pavelski about his many important goals scored in the playoffs. These are very exciting matches to play. It was quite a feeling and I’m just glad we got the chance to play another game. ”
“Pavelski doesn’t age,” Stars head coach Peter DeBoer said. What more can I say about it? We’ve seen this film several times and we can’t get enough of it. He lives for those moments and he always wanted to be in those situations. He delivers the goods almost every time. ”
The Stars sign their first victory in five games having been decided in overtime since the start of the playoffs. They had lost this way in the first two games of the series against the Knights.
“They’re a good team and this is the third overtime game of this series. We will look at certain elements, including zone exits. Their good players capitalized tonight and at this time, good things will happen, ”analyzed Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy.
Dallas will face elimination again in Game 5 of the series on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Only four teams have rallied from a 0-3 series deficit in NHL history and Pavelski was one of those to suffer such a setback when the San Jose Sharks spurned a lead 3-0 against the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
“It’s not fun when you play for the other team,” admitted Pavelski. You never think it could happen, but having experienced it, you understand that it can happen. The line is very thin at this time of year: everything is going well and suddenly you find yourself in a 0-3 deficit.
“You just have to believe that you can still save time. We’ll see where it takes us, but we’re excited about this win, we’ll rest and try to do it again in the next game to put doubt in their minds. ”
Jason Robertson scored two goals for the Stars. He has four since the beginning of the series.
“Other players have to get up without Jamie Benn,” Robertson said of his captain, who was suspended for two games for a cross-check on Mark Stone’s header in Game 3.
“It’s my responsibility to score goals. These series have not been easy, but I play on too good a line not to create opportunities in attack. ”
Heiskanen and Roope Hintz had two assists each and Jake Oettinger stopped 37 shots.
The two teams traded a goal in each of the first two periods.
In the first, William Karlsson opened the scoring after only 4:17 of play by redirecting a shot from Reilly Smith.
Robertson replied by hitting the puck in the air on the power play with 4:18 left in the first.
Jonathan Marchessault broke a 1-1 tie in the middle of the second by scoring in a third straight game. Author of a hat trick in Game 6 of the previous series against the Edmonton Oilers, the Quebecer has six goals in his last five games.
Robertson then tied the game for the second time before the end of the period with his fourth goal since the start of the series.
Hill made 39 saves in net for the Golden Knights.
“He was excellent,” Cassidy said of his goaltender. None of the goals were his fault. He made important stops and especially at the start. Oettinger has been very good on their side too. We didn’t test him in overtime, which they did on their end. ”
Recalled by the Stars a few hours before the game, Quebecer Mavrik Bourque was not in uniform for the game.
