Joe Pavelski acknowledges he appreciates scoring big playoff goals even more as he advances in his career, and his latest goal kept the Dallas Stars’ season alive.
“At this point, I’m just living in the moment,” Pavelski said. “It feels great, and I’m just glad we get to play another game and keep going.”
The 38-year-old Pavelski scored a power-play goal at 3:18 of overtime, a one-timer from the left circle, to give the Stars a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, preventing a sweep in the Western Conference Final.
Jason Robertson scored twice, notching his first multi-goal playoff game for Dallas, who played without suspended captain Jamie Benn.
“I know it’s my responsibility to score, and things have been tough in the playoffs,” Robertson said. “I finally got the bounces we needed tonight.”
Jake Oettinger bounced back from a rough Game 3, making 37 saves for the Stars. He was pulled after just 7:10 in Game 3, where he allowed three goals on five shots.
The game-winning goal came after Brayden McNabb’s high-sticking penalty on Ty Dellandrea in overtime. Fifty seconds into the power play, Pavelski delivered with a one-timer from Miro Heiskanen’s pass, giving Dallas its first overtime win in five attempts this postseason. Vegas had won the first two games of the series in overtime.
It was McNabb’s second penalty of the game, both for high-sticking. His first penalty in the opening period led to Robertson’s power-play goal, the first of the night.
Pavelski, playing in his 15th NHL season and still seeking his first Stanley Cup, scored his ninth goal in 12 postseason games. He now has 73 career playoff goals, the most by any U.S.-born player and the most among active players.
“He’s ageless,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said of Pavelski. “He thrives in these moments and consistently delivers.”
Dallas was without Benn, who was suspended two games after a cross-check on Vegas captain Mark Stone in Game 3. Benn will also miss Game 5 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas, and Adin Hill made 39 saves but saw his five-game winning streak come to an end. Hill made a crucial save late in regulation on Fredrik Olofsson, making his playoff debut.
“Our effort wasn’t enough,” said Marchessault. “Closing out a series is always tough, and we didn’t get it done.”
Karlsson and Marchessault are among six original Golden Knights still on the team from their inaugural 2017-18 season. Vegas reached the Stanley Cup Final, ultimately losing in five games to the Washington Capitals.
Vegas had a chance to complete the sweep just a day after the Florida Panthers did so against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
Vegas took a 2-1 lead midway through the second period when Marchessault scored off a pass from McNabb, putting it through Stars defenseman Ryan Suter’s legs. Robertson tied the game later in the period on a rebound off the back boards, just seconds after hitting the post.
Robertson’s first goal came late in the first period, tying the game at 1-1. He redirected Heiskanen’s shot into the air and knocked it free as Hill tried to secure it and swiped the puck into the net.
The Stars avoided being swept in the playoffs for the first time since 2001, a series loss to St. Louis. This was Dallas’ 21st playoff series since then.
Karlsson opened the scoring just 4:17 into the game, deflecting a pass from Nicolas Roy past Oettinger. It wasn’t the early barrage of goals that sunk the Stars in Game 3, but it gave Vegas the initial advantage.
“There were a lot of chances tonight,” said Reilly Smith. “We didn’t make it hard enough on them, but we’ll have another opportunity in two days.”