NHL Playoffs: Game 1 of the Western Final between the Stars and Golden Knights

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The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights currently meet in Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference Finals.

The score is 3-3 in overtime.

Jason Robertson opened the scoring with 1:16 on the clock in the first period. It’s only his third goal since the start of the playoffs, after he had an impressive season of 46 goals and 109 points. It was his first goal since Game 5 of the first round against the Minnesota Wild.

Jake Oettinger produced an excellent first period in front of the net for the Stars by stopping all 17 shots he faced.

However, William Karlsson got the better of him midway through the second half to tie the game at 1-1 with his sixth goal of the playoffs, capitalizing on the positive bounce from the boards behind the net.

The eventful third period

Carlson came back with his second goal of the game 1:19 into the third period to break the tie.

Then Rob Hentz responded by having the teams tied after less than three minutes with his tenth goal of the playoffs.

Teddy Plowger regained the lead in Vegas with his first mid-period qualifier. Oettinger was annoyed by the contact with Keegan Kolasar, which was nevertheless provoked by defenders Ryan Suter and Miro Heiskanen.

While the Stars just called Oettinger off the bench in favor of a sixth skater, Jimmy Bean put both teams back at square one with 1:59 left in the third.

Pre-match notes

The Dallas Stars hope to build on the momentum they built by winning Game 7 of their series over the Seattle Kraken.

Starting Friday night, the Stars will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights for a spot in the Stanley Cup Grand Finals, each of which secured a berth in 2020 and 2018, respectively.

“I definitely think we can use (Game 7) as a starting point,” forward Jason Robertson insisted. “It was our most complete qualifying game so far. That’s kind of the standard we want to set. Limit counter-attack and spin chances, don’t give easy attacking chances. That’s the basis for success against any club.”

The Knights also enter the Western Conference Finals with the wind in their sails, after winning back-to-back elimination powerhouse Edmonton Oilers in six games in the second round.

Dallas head coach Peter DeBoer will return to Vegas after spending three seasons there as head coach. With the Knights, DeBoer made it to the Western Final, specifically against the Stars, in 2020.

He was then sacked by Vegas on May 16, 2022, nearly a year ago today, after his club missed the postseason schedules.

The starting goalkeepers for this first match will be Jake Oettinger and Adin Hill.