In the fifth game of the final of the Western Conference of the Golden Knights in Vegas, the Dallas Stars gave in 2: 3 (1: 0, 0: 0, 1: 2, 0: 1) and said goodbye to hopes of winning the Stanley Cup this year.
In the series, up to four victories, the Stars reached 4-1 and reached their first Stanley Cup final since 2000.
After Chandler Stephenon’s goal in the first third and Rayley Smith’s “goal” after 15 seconds played in the third period, the Vegas team took the lead with 2-0.
However, with the accurate shots of Jamie Ben and Joel Kiviranta less than four minutes before the end of the third, the fight could start from the beginning.
The winner was determined after three minutes and 36 seconds of overtime, when the majority of Dennis Gurjanov scored, achieving a 3: 2 victory over the Stars. Kiviranta’s goal also fell in the majority.
“We found our game. We scored the first goal and it gave us strength, but we took the lead for the most part,” said Stars striker Joe Pavelski after winning the deficit in the post-season.
In the victory goal, 23-year-old Gurjanov got a pass from Jonas Klinbergs and from the right throw circle, without stopping the puck, passed the goal in the near corner to Vegas goalkeeper Robin Lenner, causing a victory celebration with Dallas club goalkeeper Anton Hudobin.
Hudobin repulsed 34 shots at the Stars goal, while Lenner dealt with 23 “stars” shots.
Dallas has been “knocked out” and played for most of the series, but thanks to timely goals and an excellent goalkeeper, they were able to beat their favorite “Golden Knights”.
Hudobin, who stopped 153 of 161 opponents’ shots during the series, took over the role of main goalkeeper from the injured Ben Bishop last month.
“He got into this situation and just went ahead. With each game, he became safer,” says Pavelski about Hudobin.
Vegas team coach Peter Debor said his team’s goal-scoring problems began in the previous round against the Vancouver Canucks and continued into the conference finals.
“The last few games in the series against Vancouver Canucks goalkeeper Thatcher Demko may have shaken our confidence in the area,” Debor said. “Honestly, by then, I think we’re creating tons of goal opportunities.”
After the match, the Dalas received the Clarence Campbell Prize, but no one touched it, thinking of the Stanley Cup – superstition.
Now the Dallas have to wait for their opponent in the Stanley Cup final.
In the final of the Eastern Conference, the Lightning of Tampa Bay is in the lead 3-1 against the Islanders of New York.
The game on Tuesday may become the last in this series as well.
Toronto and Edmonton first hosted a 24-team elimination tournament, with the Stanley Cup continuing with 16 units. First, the teams qualified for the series up to three victories in the “play-off” round, but then switched to the traditional series format for up to four victories.
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