(Photo credit: Vegas Golden Knights)
On Saturday, the Dallas Stars (1-2) defeated the Vegas Golden Knights (2-1) at T-Mobile Arena with a final score of 4-3 in overtime. The Stars secured the victory thanks to twenty-year-old Wyatt Johnston, who scored the opening goal and the overtime winner. Logan Thompson had a remarkable game, stopping 43 out of 46 shots and achieving a .935 save percentage. Although the Dallas Stars lost their first two games in Dallas, they have a chance to even up the series if they win against the Vegas Golden Knights in game four.
Vegas Golden Knights off to hot start
Starting the game, Vegas takes the lead with a goal from Micheal Amadio, who had been a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs, as he manages to sneak it past Jake Oettinger with a rebound shot from Brayden McNabb
Moments later former Golden Knight Evgenii Dadonov from a sharp angle, banks it off Logan Thompson’s mask and into the back of the net to tie the game at one.
Three minutes into the second period, the Golden Knights are leading with a three-on-two play. Jonathan Marchessault hits the post, however, Jack Eichel drives toward the net and manages to get the rebound, putting Vegas back in the lead. This is Eichel’s third goal in all three games of the playoff series.
Vegas got undisciplined halfway through the second which led to a game-tying powerplay goal from Wyatt Johnston, his third goal of the series.
During the final minutes of the second period, the Dallas Stars’ fourth line came up big as Craig Smith took a shot that deflected off Ty Dellendrea, resulting in Dallas taking the lead 3-2.
Vegas could not get it passed Ottenggier in the third period and pulled Thompson late in the third in hopes of tying the game, but Roope Hintz seals it for the Stars hitting the back of the empty net.
Giving this game a final score of 4-2
Jake Ottenggier finished the night with 32 saves and Logan Thompson finished with 28 saves.
With Dallas defeating Vegas, it is the NHL’s only first-round matchup guaranteed to have six games.
The Vegas Golden Knights are heading back to the American Airlines Center in Dallas as the series is now tied. The team will be playing again on March 3rd at T-Mobile Arena. The upcoming game five will determine if the Golden Knights have the chance to eliminate Dallas or possibly face elimination.
