The Dallas Stars tied the series 2-2 on Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena, following a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken.
Peter DeBoer’s team started the game well by taking the lead thanks to Jamie Benn in the first period. Dallas didn’t look back after that, despite a push from the Kraken in the third period.
Thomas Harley, Max Domi, Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz shook the ropes for the Stars. Jaden Schwartz scored a brace in the loss for the Kraken.
“This team doesn’t have two bad games in a row, we showed that tonight,” said Domi.
“We weren’t ready to play in Game 3. It was a whole different story tonight; we gave a very good effort from the start, we went for the goals, we performed well,” added Miro Heiskanen, who amassed an assist in the victory.
The Texas team started the game strong, generating two good scoring chances in the first two minutes of play.
Both Miro Heiskanen and Jared McCann seemed comfortable from their first appearances on the ice. Both were returning to play for their respective teams.
Following a penalty from Jordan Eberle, the Stars threatened on the power play but failed to hit the target.
Jason Robertson missed a good chance to score, unable to take advantage of a genuine gift from Yanni Gourde. A few minutes later, Tyler Seguin came up against Philippe Grubauer, who made a save at close range. Robertson certainly wanted to blacken the score sheet, having been cleared of it in the previous three games against the Kraken.
Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the playoffs with an accurate shot to the top on the power play to open the scoring late in the first period. Vince Dunn had been punished for breaking Radek Faksa’s staff while the Kraken was still playing with an extra man.
Dallas outplayed their opponents for most of the first period. However, after the Stars goal, the Kraken offered interesting scoring opportunities, but goalkeeper Jake Oettinger closed the door each time. He had to play a good game, he who allowed five goals on 17 shots in Game 3 before being out of the game after the second period. It was Oettinger’s fourth victory following a loss in these series.
The Stars led 11-5 in shots after one period.
Mason Marchment was missing at the start of the second period, having received an unintentional elbow to the face from Alex Wennberg in the first period. He did not return to the game.
Thanks to some fine entry play from Max Domi, defender Thomas Harley was then able to unleash a shot that beat Grubauer in the upper section once again. It was Harley’s first playoff goal, his second of his career.
Oettinger picked up where he left off, frustrating Adam Larsson from the mitt after the Stars’ second goal.
Continuing to have their foot on the gas pedal, the Stars increased their lead to 3-0, courtesy of Max Domi. This goal was however controversial, since Jamie Benn came into contact with Grubauer. The Kraken then appealed the decision. After a lengthy review, the referees finally ruled the goal legal.
“I have no fucking idea what obstruction is anymore,” McCann said after the game. Really. I don’t think anyone knows that in this league. “
The animosity escalated after this controversy, with Kraken players obviously not happy with the turn of events, even Grubauer got involved in a skirmish.
Following this sequence, good old Joe Pavelski scored his sixth of the spring tournament, posted in the enclave. It was Pavelski’s 70th career playoff goal. He thus equals Steve Yzerman for 19th in NHL history. Among active players, only Alex Ovechkin (72) and Sidney Crosby (71) have more than him.
Jaden Schwartz then offered a glimmer of hope to his supporters, but it didn’t last long. Jamie Benn fired a shot towards the net and who was passing by? Roop Hintz. The latter blocked Benn’s shot before thwarting Grubauer.
The goal extended Dallas’ lead to 5-1 late in the second period. Philippe Grubauer was thus withdrawn from the match in favor of Martin Jones. Jaden Schwartz and Adam Larsson narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the third period as the Kraken generated several scoring chances.
Early in the third period, Schwartz closed the gap, scoring his second of the game.
Adam Larsson even made it 5-3 with 4:11 left in the game. But it was too little too late for Seattle, as Domi’s empty-net goal as well as Oettinger’s saves prevented the comeback, with the game ending 6-3.
Game 5 will be presented Thursday on the Dallas side.
