Dallas Stars survive to force Game 5 against Vegas Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — After an intense back-and-forth game, the Dallas Stars survived with a goal by Joe Pavelski in overtime to win 3-2 over the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams will now come back to Las Vegas for Game 5.

Once again, the Golden Knights got on the board first. In the first period, a pass from Nicolas Roy was knocked around several times before it found Reilly Smith. He was able to get the puck to William Karlsson who tapped it in the net at 4:17. He got the goal past Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.

During Tuesday night's game, Oettinger only lasted about eight minutes in the first period and was replaced by Scott Wedgewood after VGK scored three goals.

The first power play of the night goes to Dallas. Referees have given VGK defenseman Brayden McNabb a two-minute penalty for high-sticking with 5:04 to go in the first period.

The Stars tied the game at 15:42 with an unassisted goal from Jason Robertson. That is his third goal in four games against the Knights. That also means that VGK goaltender Adin Hill's shutout streak, which has lasted since the second period of Game 2, has officially ended. He was able to keep Dallas scoreless for 117 minutes and 33 seconds.

At the end of the first period, the game was tied at one.

In the second, Vegas got its first power play at 5:54. Stars center Ty Dellandrea was given a two-minute penalty for slashing Nic Hague's stick out of his hands. Vegas wasn't able to convert on the power play.

However, the Golden Knights got on the board thanks to Jonathan Marchessault. At 10:23, Brayden McNabb was able to find Marchessault to rip one home and put Vegas up 2-1. Marchessault has had a solid run in the playoffs scoring eight goals in the past eight games.

Dallas tied things up again at 17:21. A missed shot went off the end boards and right to Robertson who scored his second unassisted goal of the night. Robertson has had nine shots on goal so far tonight, which is a playoff career high for him.

At the end of the second period, the game was tied at 2. Heading into the third, Marchessault said the team needs to focus.

"I think we need to be better in our breakout and in our forecheck. We're lucky enough it's a 2-2 game," Marchessault said. "We have to bring our best in the third. At this time of year, it's all about the result. We have to be better here."

After a solid third period with both teams playing aggressively and several key saves by Hill, neither team was able to score forcing overtime for the third time this series. In playoffs this year, VGK are undefeated in overtime while the Stars haven't won any games in overtime.

The Stars got on the power play at 2:28 after McNabb was given a two-minute penalty for high-sticking. Joe Pavelski was able to find the back of the net for his first goal of the series and gave Dallas a 3-2 win over Vegas.

"It is what it is. We've got another opportunity in two days and we're going to make the most of it," said right wing Reilly Smith.

"I mean it's still a one-goal game in overtime so it was right there for us," Marchessault said. "Everybody needs to step and I don't think that, tonight, we did that. Tomorrow is a new day and we'll get ready for Game 5."

Head coach Bruce Cassidy said there was room to improve based off tonight's performance.

" We weren't fast early on. I don't think we managed pucks well below the goal line," Cassidy said. "By the time you get it out, you're tired, you're changing, and they're coming through there. They found some open ice. We were a little less aggressive than we could have been. They made good plays and they got rewarded."

Both teams will travel to Las Vegas to face off in Game 5 on Saturday. You can watch the game on Channel 13 with the puck dropping at 5 p.m.

On Thursday night, the National Hockey League also released two versions of the Stanley Cup Final schedule depending on who wins Game 5.

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