FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Stars - Game 1 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Golden Knights vs Stars – Game 1 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Vegas Golden Knights (9-3) vs Dallas Stars (8-6)

 

Brent Howden is the overtime hero, as the Golden Knights dim the Dallas Stars 4-3, and take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final. 

It is game 1 of the Golden Knights vs Stars series. 

Game one of the Western Conference Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars when down to the wire. Brent Howden was the lucky hero that scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 win and a 1-0 series lead.

“I just tried throwing it in there. Got lucky that it went in,” Howden said. “I think [Stars goalie Jake] Oettinger put it in himself. Just tried to throw it in there and see what would happen.”

In a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Final in which Dallas won, the Golden Knights have not forgotten that series, and getting the first win in this year’s series is the right step Vegas needed.

The Golden Knights were pretty much in control of the game and looked like they had game one wrapped up until Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars scored with 1:59 left in the third period to tie the game 3-3. Hockey fans were getting flashbacks from game one between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers that went four overtimes and some were thinking another overtime marathon was in store again.

“I don’t think too many guys were saying it,” Howden said, “but I think they were thinking it.”

Overtime did not take long at all and the Golden Knights made sure of it after Brent Howden scored with 1:35 into overtime after a rebound from behind the goal line after his initial shot missed the net.

The Golden Knights as a team all played a team effort with the help of William Karlsson scored twice and Zach Whitecloud with two assists. Vegas goaltender Adin Hill finished the night with 33 saves.

“Everyone has a different formula,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Can’t always be the stars or the guys that you would expect. That’s what’s been good about our team. Different people step up in key moments.”

Roope Hintz scored a goal and had two assists, Jason Robertson also had a goal and assist for the Stars; Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger finished the night with 33 saves. Despite the effort and expectations to make a comeback, the Dallas Stars will have a chance to rebound in game two on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

“I didn’t like our start. They were more ready to play than we were. Probably could’ve anticipated it,” Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. They were better than us. I thought we battled back in the game. Again, they were better in more areas than us most of the night, so probably the right result and we’ve got to up our level.”

End of the first period in the Golden Knights vs Stars series

The Fortress in T-Mobile Arena was electric as always for Game One, but the Dallas Stars silenced the crowd scoring first late in the first period. 

The start of periods 2 and 3 in the Golden Knights vs Stars series.

Jason Robertson scoring first for the Stars was his first goal in nine games since Game Five against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.

“I knew eventually something was going to happen,” Robertson said. “I play on too good of a line not to get opportunities for the puck to finally go in. I’m sure it’s a good relief for my linemates, me, everyone. I just want to look to build off that.”

No panic but adjustments for the Golden Knights were made going into the second period which was capped off by William Karlsson scoring his first goal of the night after Zach Whitecloud’s shot from the right point hit the boards behind the net and bounced out to the left, where Karlsson shot into an open net for 1-1 tie.

“I kind of got lucky. I’m sure ‘Whitey’ was trying to put that on net,” Karlsson said. “I just wanted to be first for the possibility of a rebound.”

About almost midway in the second period, Vegas thought they scored to a take 2-1 lead when Alec Martinez’s shot slid across the goal red line before being cleared away by Stars defensemen Thomas Harley.

Despite the almost goal by Vegas, there were no worries, with over a minute going into the third period, William Karlsson scored his second goal of the night after shooting from between the face-off circles for a 2-1 lead.

“I was backing up to play safe. There was a chance for me to grab the puck,” Karlsson said. “It’s hard to explain, but I try to be in the right place sometimes.”

The one-goal lead for Vegas did not get too comfortable, as Roope Hintz tied the game for the Stars 2-2 after scoring from the left circle.

But Teddy Blueger gave the Golden Knights the lead again after scoring his goal of the playoffs for a 3-2 lead.

Throughout the game, Vegas kept their composure despite Dallas trying to claw back within a goal and also sending the game into overtime. The composure and the quick adjustments helped Vegas to take the first game of what will look like to be a long and exciting series.

“I said, ‘Let’s get this over with early so everyone can go home tonight,’” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said, jokingly. ”I watched the (Florida-Carolina) game from start to finish. I found out the beauty of being out West now. When the game ended, it was 11 o’clock at night. … We were able to capitalize on the first look. Sometimes that happens, sometimes it four overtimes.”

The final score in game 1 of the Golden Knights vs Stars series was 4-3, Vegas.

 On Sunday, the Golden Knights will play the Dallas Stars in Game 2  of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena. The puck drop is at 12:00 PM Noon. The game can be seen on AT&T SportsNet (channel 313 on Cox Cable) and ABC (channel 13 on Cox cable) or heard on 98.9 FM, FOX Sports Las Vegas 1340 AM.