* A tightly-contested victory in Game 4 helped Dallas stave off elimination. The Stars now look to force Game 6 to keep their championship aspirations alive in the Conference Finals, something the franchise has already done in their history.
* The Golden Knights return home with another opportunity to close out the Western Conference Final and join rare company in NHL history with their second Stanley Cup Final appearance within their first six seasons.
* This round has the potential to be the closest Conference Finals in NHL history. Games in the 2023 Conference Finals have been tied or separated by a one-goal margin for 90.0% of total playing time (511:00 of 567:43), including 99.2% in the East (318:58 of 321:38) and 78.0% in the West (192:02 of 246:05). In the NHL’s modern era (since 1943-44), the highest percentage of time teams have spent separated by no more than a one-goal margin in the round before the Stanley Cup Final is 87.7% (2002 Conference Finals).
STARS, GOLDEN KNIGHTS READY TO JOSTLE FOR A GAME 5 WIN
T-Mobile Arena is set to play host to an all-important Game 5 in the Western Conference Final when the Stars and Golden Knights take to the ice. Vegas eyes its second Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history while Dallas looks to stave off elimination once again and force a Game 6 back at American Airlines Center.
* The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the sixth postseason in NHL history to feature at least 13 series without a best-of-seven sweep (excluding 2020 SCQ). The others: 2020 (15), 2016 (15), 2002 (15), 1991 (15) and 2010 (13).
* Dallas, which looks to force a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 in a series for the second time in franchise history (4-2 L vs. DET, 2008 CF), can be the first team to do so since Philadelphia in the 2016 First Round (4-2 L vs. WSH). The Stars/North Stars are already one of four franchises to do so in the Conference Finals/Semifinals: also Sabres (4-2 L vs. NYI, 1980 SF), Islanders (4-3 L vs. PHI, 1975 SF) and Rangers (4-3 L vs. BOS, 1939 SF).
* Miro Heiskanen factored on two of three Stars goals in Game 4, including the primary assist on Joe Pavelski’s winner in overtime, and now owns nine career multi-point games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only six defensemen in NHL history have registered more at age 23 or younger: Paul Coffey (20), Cale Makar (12), Ray Bourque (12), Denis Potvin (11), Bobby Orr (11) and Al MacInnis (10).
* Six players who appeared in at least one game for the Golden Knights during their historic run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final remain with the team: Reilly Smith (5-17—22 in 20 GP), Jonathan Marchessault (8-13—21 in 20 GP), William Karlsson (7-8—15 in 20 GP), Shea Theodore (3-7—10 in 20 GP), Brayden McNabb (2-3—5 in 20 GP) and William Carrier (0-0—0 in 7 GP). Vegas can join Tampa Bay (2022, 2021, 2020 & 2015) and Pittsburgh (2017 & 2016) as the third team with multiple berths in the Final since the NHL realigned its format in the 2013-14 season.
* Karlsson sits tied with Marchessault with a team-leading eight goals during this postseason and has scored in each of Vegas’ three potential series-clinching games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs (1-0—1 in Game 4 at DAL, 1-0—1 in Game 6 at EDM & 1-0—1 in Game 5 vs. WPG). Should he find the back of the net in Game 5, Karlsson can become the third player in the past 30 years to extend his stretch to four consecutive contests (Martin Gelinas: 4 GP in 2004 w/ CGY & Tomas Holmstrom: 4 GP in 2002 w/ DET).
WILL WE SEE MORE OT IN ROUND THREE?
Three of four games in the Western Conference Final – and five games overall in the Conference Finals – have required more than 60 minutes of play, with the Golden Knights skating to overtime victories in Games 1 and 2 while the Stars did so to stave off elimination in Game 4.
* There have been 23 overtime games in total throughout the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs – the ninth most in a single postseason in NHL history and five shy of the League record (1993 & 2020 w/ 28). Five of the past eight playoff years have seen at least 20 such contests: also 2021 (27), 2020 (28), 2017 (27) and 2016 (20).
* Should the Golden Knights and Stars require another overtime period in Game 5, the Western Conference Final would become the fourth Conference Finals/Semifinals series to feature four such contests following the 1933 Semifinals (TOR vs. BOS, 4 GP), 1939 Semifinals (NYR vs. BOS, 4 GP) and 1968 Semifinals (STL vs. MNS, 4 GP).
QUICK CLICKS
* NHL to commemorate anniversary of NHL Draft with ’60 Diamonds’ series
* How Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers were built
* ‘Quest for the Stanley Cup’ sees history made in Conference Finals
* Stars confident they can make historic comeback in West Final
* Lucas Raymond to play host with Red Wings in NHL Global Series in Stockholm
