The Dallas Stars are used to staring down adversity this season and responding very well the next game, and they did it once again to tie their series 2-2 on the road. They exploded for four goals in the second period to put the heat on the Seattle Kraken and re-take home ice in the best-of-seven series.
The Stars came out with a much better pace to this game, out-shooting the Kraken 22-10 after two period. It’s the exact recipe they had in their lopsided win in Game 2 at home to tie the series at 1-1.
They opened the scoring after a number of dangerous looks in the opening 20 minutes to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission courtesy of a Jamie Benn power play goal. With Roope Hintz providing a screen in front, Benn hesitated just a half a beat, pulled the puck back, and then released it for a snipe right over the stick side of Philipp Grubauer.
That aggressive play continued into the second period, with the Stars finding the back of the net four times, including a Hintz dagger in the last minute to extend their lead to 5-1.
Thomas Harley got his first career playoff goal (and only second NHL career goal ever) on a nice setup by Max Domi. Then, Domi called his own number and sent one bar down to give Dallas a 3-0 lead. That one would be subjected to a long review as Benn made contact with Grubauer in the white paint just outside the top of the crease, and the goal was called good on the ice with Grubauer so far outside of his protected space.
Easy call. Goal. Benn's initial contact happened way before the shot. Grubauer was able to recover and get set. Any contact after that was in the white ice, which Benn has a right to. https://t.co/EddxIPAvma
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) May 10, 2023
Joe Pavelski would get his sixth goal of the postseason on a tip-in on the power play to make it 4-0 Dallas. Jaden Schwartz would try to change the momentum and got the Kraken on the board after a breakdown in the defensive zone by the Stars. The four-goal second period would end Grubauer’s night, and Martin Jones would start in the third.
The Stars seemed to let up a little bit in the final frame, with the Kraken pushing early to try to cut into the lead. Schwartz scored his second of the game early on to put the game at 5-2. Adam Larsson beat Jake Oettinger on a long shot with Radek Faksa and Tye Kartye battling in front of his net to bring them to within two.
Dallas played the final 4:15 of the game with the Kraken having an extra attacker with the goalie pulled. Domi would put it away with an empty-net goal for the 6-3 final with 2:21 remaining. He practically went the full length of the ice after making a play in the defensive zone to ice this one.
After enjoying relative health throughout the season and the first round (Pavelski’s concussion not withstanding), the Stars have encountered some adversity on that front that could see some lineup shakeups for Game 5:
-Miro Heiskanen returned after leaving Game 3 where he took a puck to the face. He’s wearing a full-face shield and played his normal most minutes in the game on either side workload, so though his face looks like it exploded and had to be stitched back up, it seems likely he’ll be available in Game 5.
-Jani Hakanpää was out with a lower-body injury, so Joel Hanley drew in and was paired with Thomas Harley.
-Ty Dellandrea missed the game with flu-like symptoms, so his availability is to be determined for the next game. Joel Kiviranta drew in on the fourth line.
-Mason Marchment played just three shifts in the first period before leaving the game. He took a hit in the neutral zone about seven minutes in.
-Jamie Benn missed a portion of the second period after being cross-checked by Larsson.
Game 5 is in Dallas at the American Airlines Center on Thursday, May 11th. Puck drop is 8:30 PM CT.