Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 38: Pavelski’s OT winner keeps Stars season alive

The Dallas Stars will live another day, as their best players finally managed to break through the stifling Vegas Golden Knights defense to get enough goals on the board to win 3-2 in overtime. They never led in the game, but it didn’t matter, as Jason Robertson responded when they needed to, and Joe Pavelski scored when it did matter to take Game 4.

The Golden Knights certainly looked desperate to get this series finished off the hop, as they were all over the puck early in the game and they were rewarded with a goal just 4:17 into the game. Reilly Smith let off a shot with a bouncing puck, and William Karlsson tipped it in to give Vegas the 1-0 lead.

The Stars needed a response, and they were getting plenty of chances, but nothing could beat Adin Hill. It wasn’t until 4:18 left in the period that they got their first of the night on the power play, but it took a mega effort from Jason Robertson. He deflected Miro Heiskanen’s shot on net, which was stopped by Hill, and then before the puck touched the ground, batted it out of the air to the front of the net before batting it out of the air again from there to tie the game.

But that hard work went away when the Golden Knights got the lead back midway through the second. Brayden McNabb made an excellent feed through the crease to Jonathan Marchessault in front, and he tapped it in with ease, giving the Vegas the 2-1 lead.

Yet late in the period, Robertson came up clutch again. Esa Lindell’s slap shot from the point went wide, but bounced off the boards and right to Robertson in front, who buried it into the wide open net to tie it at 2-2. The third period saw some chances, especially from the Stars, but neither goalie could be beat, and this game needed overtime to decide the winner.

It didn’t take long to decide it though. The Stars got an early power play opportunity, and a plethora of chances created chaos amongst the Golden Knights penalty kill, and a Joe Pavelski one-timer gave the Stars the 3-2 overtime win, keeping the series and their season alive.

It was a tightly fought game all around, with the Stars holding the slight edge in shots, shot attempts, scoring chances, and expected goals, so they certainly earned their first win of the series. Robertson led the way with two goals, while Heiskanen and Roope Hintz had two assists each. Jake Oettinger won the goalie battle stopping 37 of 39 shots for a .949 save percentage, while Hill stopped 39 of 42 for a .929 save percentage in the loss.