DALLAS STARS NOTES:
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL SERIES SCHEDULE
Date Time (CT) DAL [C2] vs. VGK [P1] Location TV/Radio/Result
Game 1 Fri, May 19 7:30 p.m. Dallas at Vegas T-Mobile Arena Vegas 4, Stars 3 (OT)
Game 2 Sun, May 21 2 p.m. Dallas at Vegas T-Mobile Arena Vegas 3, Dallas 2 (OT)
Game 3 Tue, May 23 7 p.m. Vegas at Dallas American Airlines Center Vegas 4, Dallas 0
Game 4 Thu, May 25 7 p.m. Vegas at Dallas American Airlines Center Dallas 3, Vegas 2 (OT)
Game 5 Sat, May 27 7 p.m. Dallas at Vegas T-Mobile Arena ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 6 * Mon, May 29 7 p.m. Vegas at Dallas American Airlines Center ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 7 * Wed, May 31 8 p.m. Dallas at Vegas T-Mobile Arena ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS
- if necessary
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
May 6 – Signed defenseman Lian Bichsel to a three-year entry-level contract
May 25 – Recalled forwards Mavrik Bourque and Rhett Gardner from Texas (AHL)
May 25 – Recalled forwards Oskar Back, Matej Blumel, Marián Studenič and Riley Tufte, defensemen Alexander Petrovic and Ryan Shea and goaltender Matt Murray from Texas (AHL)
HOW THE STARS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS SERIES HAS UNFOLDED
Game 1: May 19, 2023 – STARS 3 at GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4 (OT) | Vegas leads series 1-0
Despite a game-tying marker at the 58:01 mark of the third period from captain Jamie Benn (1-0—1), the Stars fell 4-3 in overtime on a goal from Vegas forward Brett Howden just 1:35 into sudden death. Dallas opened the scoring on a goal from forward Jason Robertson, who finished the game with a multi-point performance (1-1—2). Forward Roope Hintz continued his torrid pace in the playoffs, leading all skaters with three points (1-2—3). Forward Joe Pavelski added two assists (0-2—2), while goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 33 of 37 shots.
PP: 0-2 | PK: 1-1 | SF: 36 | SA: 37 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (29:23 – game high) | Attendance: 18,271
Three Stars: 1. VGK – B. Howden 2. VGK – W. Karlsson 3. DAL – J. Benn
Game 2: May 21, 2023 – STARS 2 at GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3 (OT) | Vegas leads series 2-0
The Stars opened the scoring and held a one-goal lead in the final minutes of regulation but fell in overtime for the second consecutive game. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen (1-0—1) tallied his first goal of the playoffs at the 2:47 mark of the opening frame and forward Jason Robertson (1-0—1) scored his second goal in as many games with a power-play tally midway through the middle frame. Defenseman Ryan Suter (0-2—2) assisted on both goals, while forwards Luke Glendening (0-1—1) and Evgenii Dadonov (0-1—1) added helpers. Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 21 saves on 24
shots.
PP: 1-3 | PK: 1-2 | SF: 28 | SA: 24 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (28:19 – game high) | Attendance: 18,358
Three Stars: 1. VGK – C. Stephenson 2. VGK – J. Marchessault 3. VGK – M. Stone
Game 3: May 23, 2023 – STARS 0 vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4 | Vegas leads series 3-0
The Stars suffered their third defeat of the series with a 4-0 loss to the Golden Knights in Game 3 at American Airlines Center. Dallas outshot Vegas 34-16 but were shutout for the first time in the playoffs (16 GP). Jake Oettinger made his 16th start of the postseason but was pulled 7:10 into the first period (three saves on five shots). Scott Wedgewood came on in relief for the remainder of the game and made 10 saves on 11 shots. Defenseman Jani Hakanpää made his series debut, recording four hits, two shots and two blocked shots in 18:36 TOI. Forward Radek Faksa went 77% in the faceoff dot, winning 10 of 13 draws.
PP: 0-2 | PK: 5-6 | SF: 34 | SA: 16 | DAL TOI: E. Lindell (22:16 – game high) | Attendance: 18,532
Three Stars: 1. VGK – A. Hill 2. VGK – I. Barbashev 3. VGK – A. Pietrangelo
Game 4: May 25, 2023 – STARS 3 vs. GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2 (OT) | Vegas leads series 3-1
With their backs against the wall in a must-win scenario, the Stars came through in sudden death with a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 4 to extend their series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Twice erasing one-goal deficits with goals from forward Jason Robertson (2-0—2), the Stars lived to fight another day when forward Joe Pavelski (1-0—1) buried a one-timer from the left faceoff dot on the power play at the 3:18 mark of OT to send a sold-out crowd at American Airlines Center into a frenzy. Robertson’s two-goal performance marked his first career multi-goal playoff game, becoming the 10th player in Dallas Stars history with multiple goals in a game when facing elimination and the first since
Corey Perry in Game 5 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Pavelski, meanwhile, scored his fourth career playoff overtime goal, tying Nicklas Backstrom and Patrice Bergeron for the second most among active players behind only Patrick Kane and Corey Perry (both with 5).
PP: 2-2 | PK: 1-1 | SF: 42 | SA: 39 | DAL TOI: M. Heiskanen (30:00 – game high) | Attendance: 18,532
Three Stars: 1. DAL – J. Robertson 2. DAL – J. Pavelski 3. VGK – A. Hill
DALLAS STARS POSTSEASON NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: It’s another do-or-die scenario for the Stars, who will look to stave off elimination once more in Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. (7 p.m. CT, ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS, Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM/1310-AM). Both of the previous two games at T-Mobile Arena required overtime (won by Vegas), while three of the first four have required extra time. Should Dallas win, Game 6 will take place at American Airlines Center on Monday, May 29 (7 p.m. CT). This represents a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Final, where the Stars earned a 4-1 series win en route to their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years.
STARS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS PLAYOFF HISTORY
- This marks the second all-time meeting between the Stars and Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The previous matchup between the two clubs was in the 2020 Conference Finals, a series won in five games by Dallas, which saw the first instance in the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44) of a Conference Finals or Semifinals series opening with each team earning a shutout within the first two contests.
- The Western Conference Final represents the fourth instance in the past 25 years of head coaches, both in their first season with a team, meeting in the penultimate round of the playoffs. The last occurrence was also between Dallas and Vegas in 2020 (DAL: Rick Bowness; VGK: Pete DeBoer). The others: 2010 (PHI: Peter Laviolette; MTL: Jacques Martin) and 1998 (WSH: Ron Wilson; BUF: Lindy Ruff).
HEATING UP IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS
- With two goals in Game 4 vs. Vegas, forward Jason Robertson became the second player in franchise history to score two tying goals in a game when his club is facing elimination, following Joel Kiviranta (2 in Game 7 of 2020 R2). Robertson also became the 10th player in Dallas Stars history with multiple goals in a contest when facing elimination and the first since Corey Perry in Game 5 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.
- Robertson, who had only two goals through the first two rounds of the playoffs, has four goals (4-1—5) in four games vs. Vegas.
- Robertson ranks second on the Stars in points (6-11—17), shares second in assists (11) and ranks third in goals (6).
- With a goal in Game 2 at Vegas, Robertson (50-74—124) became the seventh active player with 50-plus goals in a single year at age 23 or younger (regular season & playoffs combined). The others: Alex Ovechkin (3x; last: 67 in 2008- 09), Steven Stamkos (3x; last: 60 in 2011-12), Sidney Crosby (57 in 2009-10), Evgeni Malkin (57 in 2007-08), Eric Staal (54 in 2005-06) and Leon Draisaitl (50 in 2018-19).
- He also became the fifth player in franchise history to score 50 combined goals in a campaign (regular season & playoffs), joining Brian Bellows (59 in 1989-90), Dino Ciccarelli (58 in 1981-82 & 52 in 1986-87), Mike Modano (57 in 1993-94) and Dave Gagner (52 in 1990-91).
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTES:
2023 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS – WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DALLAS STARS
Golden Knights 2022-23 Regular Season Record: 51-22-9, 111 points (25-15-1 at Home, 26-7-8 on Road)
DATE RESULT VGK GOALS VGK GOALIE DAL GOALIE
May 19 Vegas 4, Dallas 3 OT 71(2), 53, 21 Hill Oettinger
May 21 Vegas 3, Dallas 2 OT 61, 81, 20 Hill Oettinger
May 23 Vegas 4, Dallas 0 81, 49, 28, 7 Hill Oettinger/Wedgewood
May 25 Vegas 2, Dallas 3 OT 71, 81 Hill Oettinger
DATE OPPONENT TIME (PT) TELEVISION RADIO SPANISH RADIO
May 27 vs. Dallas Stars 5 p.m. ABC Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
May 29* at Dallas Stars 5 p.m. ESPN Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
May 31* vs. Dallas Stars 6 p.m. ESPN Fox Sports 98.9 FM/1340 AM Deportes 1460 AM
*If Necessary
Game 4 Recap
May 25 – Vegas Golden Knights 2, Dallas Stars 3 OT
The Vegas Golden Knights fell, 3-2, in overtime to the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday night at American Airlines Center. Vegas leads the series, 3-1. William Karlsson and Jason Robertson each found the back of the net in the opening frame as the teams went into the first intermission level at 1-1. Jonathan Marchessault rebuilt the Vegas lead midway through the middle frame, but Robertson scored again late in the period to make it a 2-2 game. Neither side scored in the third to set up Joe Pavelski’s game-winning power-play goal just 3:18 into overtime.
VGK/DAL – Regular Season Recap
The Golden Knights held a 0-1-2 record against the Stars in the 2022-23 regular season. In the first matchup, Vegas was shut out, 4-0, by Jake Oettinger. In the second contest, Michael Amadio and Jack Eichel each scored to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 advantage, until Roope Hintz scored in the final 38 seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless extra session, it was Jason Robertson and Hintz who each put pucks past Laurent Brossoit to secure the comeback win in the shootout. In the final meeting of the season, Brett Howden got Vegas on the board first, but Joel Kiviranta tied things up for Dallas and forced overtime. Neither team was able to finish things in the extra session and it was Hintz who was the shootout hero again.
2022-23 Season DAL Series: 0-1-2 (Home: 0-1-1, Road: 0-0-1)
Playoff History with Dallas
Western Conference Final 2020 (1-4)
- Sep. 6 vs. DAL – Vegas 0, Dallas 1
- Sep. 8 vs. DAL – Vegas 3, Dallas 0
- Sep. 8 vs. DAL – Vegas 2, Dallas 3 OT
- Sep. 12 vs. DAL – Vegas 1, Dallas 2
- Sep. 14 vs DAL – Vegas 2, Dallas 3 OT
Fast and Furious
William Karlsson opened scoring for the Golden Knights 4:17 into regulation on Thursday in Dallas to mark the eighth time Vegas has scored in the first five minutes of a contest this postseason. Vegas’ eight tallies in the first five minutes tie Edmonton for the lead among all playoff teams this postseason.
Dynamic Duo
It was Reilly Smith who set up William Karlsson for his goal in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday. Smith and Karlsson have combined on the same playoff goal with Vegas 25 times in their careers. The only Golden Knights duo to factor on more postseason goals together are Jonathan Marchessault and Smith (26).
Great Eight
With their goals on Friday night, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson have each found the back of the net eight times this postseason. The two have matched the franchise record for most goals scored in a single playoff run, joining Alex Tuch (2020) and matching Marchessault’s own total from 2018.
It’s Clinching Time
With one more win against the Stars, the Golden Knights will earn their second Stanley Cup Final berth in their six-year history. Game 5 with Dallas will be Vegas’ second chance to move on to the final round; the Golden Knights hold a 9-9 franchise record when they have a chance to clinch a playoff series, including wins in their last three of those situations at T-Mobile Arena. Most recently, Vegas beat Winnipeg in Game 5 of the first round this season, 4-1, to win that series, 4-1.
