DALLAS — It took three games, but the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights offenses came out to play Thursday night during Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final.
The goals didn't start until late in the second period, but once they did, they didn't stop.
Jamie Oleksiak scored one for the Stars, and then Shea Theodore started off the third period with a goal for the Golden Knights.
Jamie Benn responded for the Stars a few minutes later, and then Alex Tuch scored another one for the Golden Knights on a goal that was challenged by Dallas for goaltending but was ultimately allowed to stand. That was the second goal challenge from Dallas in this series and the first one allowed to stand.
A last-ditch effort by Benn to beat the buzzer was blocked, and regulation ended at 2-2.
Then, Alexander Radulov scored for Dallas 31 seconds into overtime play, putting the Stars up 3-2 for the game and 2-1 on the series.
Much like in Game 1, Dallas Stars goalie Anton Khudobin was the defensive star of the night. He had blocked 38 of 40 shots by the end of regulation.
The Stars started off the series strong, scoring the only goal of Game 1 against a sluggish Golden Knights team. Game 2 was a different story, as the Golden Knights flipped the script and scored three goals in the second period to win against a Stars team that looked completely opposite of its Game 1 showing.
The Stars' top line combined for 8 points in Game 1 of its previous series against Colorado but has been conspicuously quiet in the current series. Tyler Seguin has no points in the last six games and Captain Jamie Benn scored his first goal in four games Thursday night.
If the Stars want to make it to Lord Stanley's final, the big players need to find ways to make big plays.
Game 4 will be on Sat. Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. CST. It will be broadcast live from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on NBC.
