Dallas Stars

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been suspended two games for cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.

Benn was ejected and given a five-minute major penalty about two minutes into the first period of Game 3 after cross-checking Stone in the head.

Jamie Benn was given a 5 minute major on this play https://t.co/NZESKh2JtL

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

"It is important to note that Benn is in control of this play at all times and makes the decision to deliver a forceful cross-check to a prone player," the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a video explaining the suspension. "This is simply an unnecessarily dangerous decision by Benn and it is delivered with sufficient intent and force to merit supplemental discipline."

Benn told reporters Wednesday that the hit happened in the "heat of the moment."

"I need to be more responsible with my body and my stick," Benn said. "My first shift of a game on home ice when you're pretty jacked up and down 1-0, so you want to try to get your team going. Emotions are high and, you know, it was just an unfortunate play."

Stone told reporters: "It didn't feel good. I think I was more a little bit surprised. It was early in the game; it was my first shift of the game. I didn't expect to get stomped on like that. But I could hear the ref making sure I was all right and I felt OK to get up. The refs made sure the right call was made."

Stars head coach Peter DeBoer acknowledged after the game that Benn "made a mistake" and he "feels really badly about it."

The Stars, down 3-0 to the Golden Knights, will now be without Benn for a potential elimination Game 4 on Thursday at American Airlines Center. If Dallas forces a Game 5, the captain will also miss that matchup.

Luke Glendening or Fredrik Olofsson figures to slot into the Dallas lineup for Game 4.

If the Stars are swept out of the Western Conference Finals, Benn will serve the second game of his suspension to open the 2023-24 campaign.

The Dallas Stars apologized Wednesday for some of their fans throwing debris on the ice during Tuesday's Game 3 loss to the visiting Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

Stars president Brad Alberts released a statement in which he apologized for the "unacceptable" actions of "a few" of the fans in attendance:

pic.twitter.com/p2IXB9511Y

— X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 24, 2023

Fans began throwing debris on the ice near the end of the second period with the Golden Knights leading 4-0. Stars forward Max Domi and Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague got into it with each other, leading to Domi getting called for cross-checking and roughing, and receiving a 10-minute misconduct:

Stars fans, who were clearly frustrated with the game and the prospect of going down 3-0 in the series, reacted by throwing cans, plastic bottles and other objects onto the ice.

Each of the first two games of the Western Conference Final, which were played in Vegas, went to overtime and saw the Golden Knights prevail.

Brett Howden scored the overtime winner in the 4-3 victory in Game 1, and Chandler Stephenson gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2.

The Stars entered Game 3 in desperate need of a win to cut the series deficit in half, but they could not beat Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill despite firing 34 shots on goal.

Vegas had only 16 shots in the entire game, but Stars goalie Jake Oettinger let in three of the five shots he faced, and backup Scott Wedgewood allowed the fourth and final goal after replacing Oettinger.

The Golden Knights were up 3-0 just over seven minutes into the game, leaving the Stars and their fans shellshocked. Dallas is looking to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four seasons, but it will now require one of the greatest comebacks in NHL playoff history.

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are just one win away from their second Stanley Cup Final in franchise history despite not entering the league as an expansion team until 2017.

Like the Golden Knights, the Florida Panthers hold a 3-0 series lead against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, meaning the NHL is on the precipice of a Stanley Cup final between two teams that have never won the Cup.

The Dallas Stars faced a must-win Game 3 at home on Tuesday night, trailing the Vegas Golden Nights 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.

And absolutely everything went wrong instead.

Captain Jamie Benn got himself ejected within minutes of the opening face-off, Jake Oettinger gave up three goals on five shots in the first period before getting the hook and the Golden Knights rolled to a 4-0 victory that put them one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals.

Eichel with a WICKED cross-ice dish for the goal 😱 https://t.co/ORQrxHy2Yh

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

Vegas takes advantage of the long powerplay 👀 https://t.co/rbhMg8lWjU

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

IT'S NOW 3-0 VEGAS JUST 7 MINUTES IN 😱

Wedgewood is now in the game replacing Oettinger https://t.co/l4r7JVLfes

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

and that'll be a 4-0 hockey game... 😱 https://t.co/pxsG5uJCuj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

Jonathan Marchessault, Ivan Barbashev, William Carrier and Alex Pietrangelo scored for Vegas. Barbashev and Nicolas Roy added two assists apiece.

Benn set the tone for the entire game with a head-scratching cross-check to the face of Mark Stone, with the Golden Knights already leading 1-0.

Jamie Benn was given a 5 minute major on this play https://t.co/NZESKh2JtL

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

He was promptly given a five-minute game misconduct, was ejected and the Golden Knights scored on the ensuing power play to go up 2-0.

And NHL Twitter let him hear about it:

What is Jamie Benn doing here? Dirty play. 5-minute major & a game misconduct is the right call. pic.twitter.com/5ycSZsmnfx

— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) May 24, 2023

What is Jamie Benn doing there ? Brutal penalty to take

— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) May 24, 2023

Benn gone for the night. Major and Game Misconduct…silly move just 1:53 in to the game.#StanleyCupPlayoffs

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) May 24, 2023

The Dallas Stars season may have just ended on a bone-headed play from the person you'd least expect a boneheaded play from.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 24, 2023

Penalty is uphold. Game misconduct for Benn. Not exactly captain-like! https://t.co/mKtLMnerSA

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 24, 2023

Wow five-minutes and a game misconduct to Jamie Benn for the cross check. Just a really careless, unnecessary play. Stars going on the the PK and will play short all night for the next 58 minutes.

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 24, 2023

And then there was Oettinger.

Within seven minutes, he had the Stars down three goals, and it was clear he simply wasn't sharp from the get go.

Suffice to say, NHL Twitter had thoughts:

Jake Oettinger nation has no comment at this time please respect our privacy

— Sarah (@skg_18) May 24, 2023

That Jake Oettinger has been slightly above average at best, and flat out awful at worst, has been the most surprising, and least talked about Stars story of these playoffs

— Chuck Cooperstein (@MavsOnPump) May 24, 2023

Oettinger gets pulled just 7:10 into the game.

This is the absolute worst case scenario for Dallas on so many levels.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 24, 2023

Tough growing pains for Jake Oettinger in this postseason run.

It's difficult to watch -- but this kind of mental scar tissue can pay dividends down the road.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was 4-5 and gave up 26 goals in his first 12 career playoff appearances. https://t.co/H5fpAEk4Ii

— Brien Rea (@BrienRea) May 24, 2023

There are blowouts, and then there are games where one team appears to drain the will to compete out of their competitor. This was the latter, and it's hard to envision a scenario where the Stars actually make this a series.

Perhaps no image better summed up the night than a livid Max Domi trying to scrap with a visibly amused Nic Hauge, who simply kept him at bay:

Nic Hauge straight up giggling while Max Domi tries to scrap 😭

(via @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/7ta885JZFW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

The Stars need to dig deep after Tuesday night. If they replicate Game 3's effort, they'll find themselves on vacation by the end of the week.

Game 4 will be in Dallas on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).

The Dallas Stars have advanced to the Western Conference Final with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of their second-round series on Monday.

After a scoreless first period, Roope Hintz got the Stars on the board with an unassisted goal to continue an impressive postseason performance. With 19 points, Hintz now trails Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid for the points lead in the playoffs.

Wyatt Johnston added an insurance goal for the Stars at the 12:48 mark of the third period. Evgenii Dadonov and Thomas Harley were both credited on the assist. It turned out to be the game-winner, as Oliver Bjorkstrand scored a late goal for the Kraken with just 18 seconds remaining in the game.

The goals by Hintz and Johnston had Twitter hyped as the Stars made it back to the conference final for the first time since the 2020 season:

ROOPE HINTZ GOT THE STARS ON THE BOARD FIRST IN GAME 7‼️ pic.twitter.com/yMhrKw8moa

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is now second in the NHL Playoffs in points 👀

He's one point behind McDavid for first place 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YNcdYtQ9Uh

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz was a TOP10 center in the regular season by the way. Still underrated player.

— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is some kind of player.

— Travis Yost (@travisyost) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is made for the playoffs

— Tom Vecchio (@Tom_Vecchio1) May 16, 2023

Your 2023 Conn Smythe favorite: Roope Hintz?

— Matt Reitz (@ViewFromMySeats) May 16, 2023

WYATT JOHNSTON is so yucky

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) May 16, 2023

Wyatt Johnston, wow he made that look easy. The 20-year-old

2-0, Stars

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 16, 2023

Oh my Wyatt Johnston. 2-0 Stars

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 16, 2023

What a play by Johnston. He's ahead of the pack on what would have been an icing. The puck comes off the end boards, and he roofs it short side with a backhand. 2-0, Dallas, with 7:12 to go.

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) May 16, 2023

Retroactively make him a Calder Finalist

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 16, 2023

Wyatt Johnston what did you do ?????

— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) May 16, 2023

That's an absolutely fantastic goal for Johnston. What a finish.

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) May 16, 2023

The Stars are now set to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Game 1 is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

It might be time to come up with a nickname for the Stars' deadly top line.

Joe Pavelski scored, Jason Robertson racked up three assists and Roope Hintz tallied twice as the Stars won Game 5 over the Seattle Kraken, 5-2, Thursday night in Dallas.

The Stars lead the second-round series, 3-2.

Hintz now has 18 points in 11 playoff games, tying the Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead. He holds the Dallas franchise record for points in a single postseason, per the NHL on TNT broadcast.

is roope hintz the most underrated player in the nhl

— x - leo (@goalieenjoyer) May 12, 2023

Roope Hintz is so underrated and I’m so glad he’s popping off in the spotlight

— Jeanty to Dallas? (@beavs22) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/RistoPakarinen/status/1656875525053337602

Roope Hintz is Conn Smythe worthy!

— Michael Petersen (@MikeDPete) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/ZWal93/status/1656873484230840320

I've been saying it for almost 4yrs now...

ROOPE HINTZ IS THEE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER.

A SUPER STAR & PERFECT PLAYOFF PLAYER

— SidneyCup: Hockey God Genius (Jeff) (@Jeffs_Penguins) May 12, 2023

Roope Hintz makes it happen for this team. His speed set up that entire sequence. Skates around the trapezoid to the corner, cycles it. Pavelski ends up with it front of the net for Hintz to top bardownski and finish it. Top 5 forward in this league.#TexasHockey

— x-Smitty WerbenJagerManJensen🇺🇸 (@D_S_C_87) May 12, 2023

Robertson, whose goalless drought has now extended to a rare six games, recorded helpers on each of Hintz's goals as well as Pavelski's tally.

https://twitter.com/DalHockeyFans/status/1656876335959031812

Jason Robertson has arrived 🔥

— x - bamboozle (@ibamboozIe) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/eileenjforrest/status/1656877709757227008

Jason Robertson is so good that 11 points in 11 games has him on wanted posters in Dallas. 😅😂.

Sure he’s struggled at times and his goal scoring is what you’re waiting for but he’s still had some very good games and a very big impact so far. #TexasHockey

— D 🏆 (@TxForever) May 12, 2023

The Stars scored twice on their first three shots. Wyatt Johnston and Hintz both tallied in the first six minutes, and the Kraken headed into the period break trailing 2-0 despite leading in shots, 14-5.

Pavelski made it three-nil for Dallas with his seventh goal of the postseason just 35 seconds into the second period, but the Kraken responded under two minutes later with a goal from defenseman Adam Larsson to get the visitors on the board.

Seattle tried to gain momentum from Larsson's tally by double-shifting 40-goal scorer Jared McCann. That paid off when McCann scored off of a defender's skate seven minutes into the second, cutting the Stars' lead to 3-2.

In the third period, confusion took over American Airlines Center as referees waved for play to continue after Hintz scored top-shelf over Philipp Grubauer's blocker. The play was whistled dead moments later, and fans began a belated celebration as the Stars regained a late two-goal lead, 4-2. An empty-net tally sealed the win.

The Stars now have the chance to close out the series in Seattle, where the Kraken will fight to extend their season Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

The Dallas Stars bounced back Tuesday with a 6-3 road win to even their second-round playoff series with the Seattle Kraken at 2-2, and Joe Pavelski was once again in the thick of it.

Pavelski netted a power-play goal in the second period to extend the Dallas lead to 4-0, giving him a remarkable six goals in the series thus far:

That's the 6th goal of the series for Pavelski 🤯 https://t.co/L37LffULJR

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 10, 2023

The goal was a historic one for the 38-year-old veteran, as he became only the third active player with 70 or more career playoff goals and moved into a tie for 19th in career playoff goals and a tie for seventh in career playoff power-play goals:

Joe Pavelski joined an exclusive club tonight ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/UlvpJSyhLJ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 10, 2023

Joe Pavelski scored his 70th career #StanleyCup Playoffs goal and tied Steve Yzerman for 19th place on the League’s all-time list. The only active players with more are Alex Ovechkin (72) and Sidney Crosby (71).#NHLStats: https://t.co/rkKsRdjrka pic.twitter.com/z3wS81gH1X

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 10, 2023

Joe Pavelski is now tied with Steve Yzerman for 19th on the NHL's All-Time Playoff Goals Scored list with 70. pic.twitter.com/UEeEn8NOEY

— FanDuel Sports Network Southwest (@FanDuelSN_SW) May 10, 2023

Joe Pavelski’s 28th career power-play goal in the #StanleyCup Playoffs was the game winner as the @DallasStars pulled even in their Second Round series.#NHLStats: https://t.co/rkKsRdjrka pic.twitter.com/h4yA7VckVA

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 10, 2023

Pavelski missed all but one game during the Stars' first-round playoff triumph over the Minnesota Wild, but he has returned to play in all four games against Seattle and has been electric.

Although the Stars lost the game in overtime, Pavelski netted four goals in Game 1 against the Kraken. He also scored a goal in Dallas' Game 2 win and added his sixth of the series in Tuesday's Game 4 victory.

Pavelski has been a top-flight playoff performer dating back to his time with the San Jose Sharks, and he received a ton of praise of social media Tuesday night for his recent form:

Joe Pavelski shooting himself to the top of the Conn Smythe conversation after not playing a full round is kinda hilarious

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 10, 2023

ALSO can we talk about Joe Pavelski having 6 goals?? He missed all of round 1 and he’s now tied for 3rd in goals this postseason

— Jeanty to Dallas? (@beavs22) May 10, 2023

We don’t usually think of him in the same breath as those other elite scorers, but Pavelski has been quietly excellent https://t.co/fm3TD3UEHv

— SportsChasers (@FollowYourShots) May 10, 2023

The 6 goals for Joe Pavelski this series are his most in any playoff series. He had 5 for the #SJSharks in 2010 vs the Avalanche and 2016 vs the Kings

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) May 10, 2023

https://twitter.com/darbylallen/status/1656137588703477760

Pavelski is having a series

— Rare (@RareWallaby) May 10, 2023

What the doctors gave Joe Pavelski when he was out with that concussion!!!😎😎😎😎😁😁😁😁 pic.twitter.com/Uxc6m9DPKn

— Taimon R. Turner (@TaimonT717) May 10, 2023

JOE PAVELSKI IS INEVITABLE https://t.co/U8oaujXQgR

— Uncle Jawn’s Band (@athensluke) May 10, 2023

In addition to Pavelski scoring his sixth goal of the series, five Stars players registered a multi-point night as part of Dallas' six-goal outburst in Game 4.

Leading the way was trade-deadline acquisition Max Domi, who netted two goals and dished out an assist for a team-high three points.

While Seattle has been pesky, much like it was in eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round, the Stars are now heading back home with momentum on their side.

With one of the all-time great playoff performers in Pavelski leading the way, Dallas will have a chance to take a 3-2 series lead Thursday when it hosts the Kraken in Game 5.

It was the most dominant 20 minutes of hockey thus far in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Seattle Kraken poured in five goals in the second period en route to a 7-2 win over the Dallas Stars at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Sunday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

Goals from Jordan Eberle, Alex Wennberg, Carson Soucy, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen contributed to an electric and stunning display that effectively won the game for the Kraken as they took a 5-1 lead into the final period.

But they didn't stop there as Yanni Gourde and Justin Schultz tacked on another two goals to complete the rout and put an exclamation point on one of the best playoff displays this year.

None of that would have happened, however, without the superb play from goalie Philipp Grubauer, who kept the Stars scoreless in the first period and held off an onslaught the rest of the game as the visitors tried to get back into it.

Grubauer was arguably the team's MVP as he saved 24-of-26 shots for a .923 save percentage, keeping Dallas at bay after it scored four goals in its Game 2 win.

NHL Twitter went wild after watching how strong the Kraken came out to defend their home ice.

GOAL NUMBER 5️⃣ FOR THE KRAKEN IN THE 2ND‼️

Seattle leads Dallas 5-1 in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/j3sNnwaQJF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2023

It's a route. Last two goals have come against the Marchment—Domi—Pavelski line.

3-0, Kraken

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 8, 2023

Kraken I don’t know if you will win this series but I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Holy buzzsaw. They are a TEAM playing for each other and it’s evident.

— Brian Boyle (@BriBrows22) May 8, 2023

Again, when people keep asking how the Kraken are doing this, they just showed why.

Three goals from three different scorers in Jordan Eberle, Alexander Wennberg and Carson Soucy in the span of six minutes. #SeaKraken

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) May 8, 2023

Carson Soucy, clean on Jake Oettinger, five hole, and the floodgates are opening on the Dallas Stars.

Turnabout is fair play here in period two. 3-0 lead and the Kraken have been fully released.

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) May 8, 2023

https://twitter.com/kimischilling/status/1655404578634858497

FERRY HORN 4 - This is ridiculous. Matty Beniers. 4-0

— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) May 8, 2023

GIVE US YOUR BEST

🗣️ GRUUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/7b8cRtsk31

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) May 8, 2023

Kraken make it 5-1. Rough period for Oettinger.

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) May 8, 2023

5 goal period, but props go to Gru #SEAKraken pic.twitter.com/QutgpIr96K

— Kraken It Open (@KrakenItOpenNHL) May 8, 2023

Let’s goooooo!!!!! #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/TVlTtV0OsN

— Jake (@JZW73) May 8, 2023

Ol’ fashion ass-kickin’!! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/APkiVjoHGh

— Keegan Hall (@KeeganHall) May 8, 2023

While it's unlikely that that second-period production will be replicated by the Kraken, that type of performance could stick in the back of Dallas' mind throughout the rest of the series.

Because now it knows what Seattle is capable of if it sniffs an opportunity.

The Stars will be looking for a big bounce-back performance in Seattle to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 series hole.

Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Dallas Stars have canceled a watch party that was planned for Sunday night's Game 3 against the Seattle Kraken in the wake of Saturday's mass shooting at an outlet mall north of Dallas in which eight people were killed and at least seven others were injured.

According to ESPN, the Stars chose not to have the party outside the American Airlines Center "out of respect for the victims, families and community of Allen." Dallas had hosted watch parties for its previous road playoff games.

The plaza outside the team's home arena is less than 30 miles from Allen Premium Outlets, where the shooting occurred. The team's practice facility and offices in Frisco, Texas, are just 14 miles from the mall.

"It's really close to home, obviously, and just tragic," Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said after morning skate in Seattle. "Frankly, when you hear victims as young as five years old, you just, you get tired of hearing it. I think when you hear Sandy Hook and Parkland and Nashville, you know, unless it's in your backyard, you compartmentalize it and put it aside. And then when it happens in your backyard, you realize, you know, the horror of it."

DeBoer, who is in his first year as Dallas head coach, said his family shops at that mall, and some players do as well. He added that the team is "heartbroken" over the shooting and acknowledged that it was not easy to think about playing a game.

The Stars and Kraken are tied 1-1 in the second-round series heading into Sunday's Game 3.

Joe Pavelski remains an unstoppable force, as he scored his fifth goal in two games against the Seattle Kraken to lead the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals and even the series at one game apiece.

The Stars captain became the 40th player in NHL history to score at least four goals in a playoff game in Game 1, but the team couldn't take advantage of it in a 5-4 loss. His third-period goal on Thursday night sealed Dallas' win.

Another day, another hot play from Joe Pavelski (@jpav8). 🔥 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/LaJpv7c3yx #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz pic.twitter.com/i0CS10jQR0

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2023

Pavelski is a rare athlete who seems to be getting better as he gets older. The 38-year-old scored 28 goals during the regular season, his most since 2018-19.

Making his performance in the past two games even more impressive is he missed the final five games of the Stars' first-round series against the Minnesota Wild with a head injury.

Hockey fans are full of praise for Pavelski after another impressive game that the Stars needed to avoid losing two home games to start the series:

Stars Joe Pavelski has collected the 3rd most playoff goals among active skaters pic.twitter.com/Rgdgh3Xmr9

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 5, 2023

Joe Pavelski scores, ending 37-minute drought

— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) May 5, 2023

Scoring in a 4-1 @DallasStars Game 2 win vs the Kraken on Thursday, the almost 39-year old Joe Pavelski now has an incredible 5 goals through 2 contests in Round 2. That has him already tied for 2nd (and 1 behind the leader) for great playoff series among very seasoned vets here pic.twitter.com/L7MpXNDRwV

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) May 5, 2023

Joe Pavelski to the Stars is Adrian Beltre to the Rangers.

Both came late in career and took a step forward after many questioned their signing and contract.

And I love them both.

— Tim Watkins (@TimWatkins04) May 5, 2023

Sign Pavelski to a lifetime contract

— Jantzen (@jantzen_murray) May 5, 2023

https://twitter.com/holly_holl/status/1654325379337682945

“I don’t know what they’re eating in the Pavelski household right now but it’s working.”

— Tyler Seguin when asked about Wyatt Johnston

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 5, 2023

The most surprising part of the Stars' loss in Game 1 was how poorly their defense and goaltending performed. They had only allowed three goals over the final three games against the Wild to overcome a 2-1 series deficit.

Jake Oettinger hadn't allowed five goals in a game since March 21 prior to the series opener. Thursday was much more indicative of what this Dallas team has done all season when it ranked in the top seven in goals scored (285) and goals allowed (218).

Pavelski led the way in Game 2, but four different players scored goals. This is what the Stars need to do if they want to keep get back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

The series will shift to Seattle for Game 3 on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET.