Howden scores in OT to lift Golden Knights over Stars in Game 1
Vegas forward pots winner from behind the net for 4-3 victory on home ice
After the Dallas Stars forced overtime Friday night with 1:59 left, Brett Howden flashed back to the previous night when Florida beat Carolina in four overtimes.
Could another marathon night be in store?
"I don't think too many guys were saying it," Howden said, "but I think they were thinking it."
"I just just tried throwing it in there," Howden said. "I got lucky that it went in. I think Oettinger put it in himself."
This was the third time in four meetings this season these teams went beyond regulation to determine the winner. Dallas won twice in the regular season in shootouts.
ONLY NEEDED 1:35 OF OVERTIME IN THIS ONE. <br><br>Brett Howden tucks one home and the <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenKnights?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoldenKnights</a> take Game 1! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/HKnd45xjY1">pic.twitter.com/HKnd45xjY1</a>
—@NHLThe Stars also have plenty of experience with post-season overtimes. This is the third time in a row they have opened a series with an OT loss, so the Stars know how to fight back from adversity.
The Knights appeared headed to victory when Dallas took Oettinger out of the goal for an extra skater. Jamie Benn then forced the extra time when the Knights weren't able to clear the puck from the crease with a six-on-five goal.
Having gone from victory to a tie and potentially a long night, the Knights kept their composure and didn't waste time taking the early series lead.
William Karlsson scored two goals for Vegas, giving him seven this post-season and extending his point streak to three games.
"You want to be one of the guys that contribute," Karlsson said. "This is when it matters the most. I'm feeling good, and the puck is bouncing my way."
two goals for this Misfit 🤠 <a href="https://t.co/0GSpUrUfsC">pic.twitter.com/0GSpUrUfsC</a>
—@GoldenKnightsTeddy Blueger also scored for the Knights, Zach Whitecloud had two assists and Adin Hill stopped 33 shots.
Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist for Stars. Hintz has 10 postseason goals and 12 assists, and has hit the back of the net in four of the past five games. Joe Pavelski recorded two assists, and Oettinger made 33 saves.
Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.
The Knights evened the score midway through the second period when Whitecloud sent a shot from the point off the boards behind the net to Karlsson.
Both teams had near-misses in the second. A shot from Vegas' Alec Martinez somehow sat on the goal line behind Oettinger, and Dallas' Tyler Sequin hit the post on a play off the rush.
Karlsson put the Knights up 2-1 early in the third before Hintz answered for the Stars at 4:10 of the period. Blueger took advantage of a scrum in the crease to score at 9:20 of the third before Benn tied it up in the final two minutes.
The Stars had overcome a slow start in which the Knights outshot them 11-1 to open the game.
"I thought we got better as the game went on," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "I thought our third period was our best. I thought our first period was our worst."
