In a contest that shifted from a dominant performance to a desperate survival act, the Dallas Stars managed to escape T-Mobile Arena with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Despite surrendering a commanding three-goal lead in the final frame, Dallas found their composure in the skills competition to secure two crucial points in the standings.
Stars Survive Late Surge in Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights Clash
For the first 40 minutes of play, it appeared the Dallas Stars were on their way to a routine road victory. Dallas jumped out to an early lead just 1:37 into the first period when Matt Duchene capitalized on a sharp-angled shot to beat Adin Hill. It marked Duchene’s fourth goal in his last three games, continuing a hot streak for the veteran forward.
While Vegas briefly evened the score early in the second period through Keegan Kolesar, the Stars responded with three unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead into the second intermission. The surge was led by young standout Mavrik Bourque, who notched the first multi-goal game of his NHL career. Wyatt Johnston also found the back of the net during the flurry, while veterans Jamie Benn and Sam Steel each provided two assists to facilitate the offensive explosion.
A Furious Third-Period Comeback by Vegas
The Vegas Golden Knights, however, refused to go quietly in front of their home crowd. The comeback began early in the third period when Reilly Smith scored a short-handed goal at the 4:04 mark, finishing a 2-on-1 rush after a Dallas turnover at the point. The goal was Smith’s 13th career short-handed tally for the franchise, placing him just two behind the record held by William Karlsson.
Vegas continued to pressure a suddenly defensive Dallas squad. Ivan Barbashev cut the deficit to a single goal with just over six minutes remaining, ending a personal 17-game goal drought. As the clock ticked down, the Golden Knights pulled Hill for an extra attacker, leading to a frantic finish. With only 48.7 seconds left in regulation, Mitch Marner kept the puck in the zone at the blue line and fired a seeing-eye shot from the left point that beat Jake Oettinger to tie the game at 4-4.
Bourque and Johnston Reach Individual Milestones
Beyond the scoreboard, the night was significant for several Stars players. Mavrik Bourque, the 30th overall pick in 2020, finally had the breakout performance Dallas fans had been waiting for. Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston suited up for his 300th career game. Impressively, Johnston has not missed a single game since making his NHL debut in October 2022, becoming only the fourth player from the 2021 draft class to reach the 300-game mark.
Veteran forward Adam Erne also reached a milestone, skating in his 400th career NHL game. The depth of the Dallas roster was on full display, even as the team struggled to maintain their defensive structure during the Vegas rally.
Shootout Success and Golden Knights’ Struggles
After a scoreless overtime period that saw Mikko Rantanen hit the post on a breakaway, the game moved to a shootout. The Stars’ stars shone brightly in the final stage, as Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen both converted their attempts. On the other side, Jake Oettinger stood tall, stopping attempts from Pavel Dorofeyev and Jack Eichel to seal the win.
The loss highlighted a growing concern for the Golden Knights, who have now lost five of their last six games. More specifically, Vegas has struggled mightily in tie-breaking scenarios this season, falling to a 1-6 record in shootouts. Despite the hard-fought point earned by the comeback, the inability to close out the extra session remains a hurdle for Bruce Cassidy’s squad.
Looking Ahead
The Dallas Stars will look to build on this momentum as they continue their road trip with a visit to the Utah Mammoth on Saturday. For the Vegas Golden Knights, the focus remains on snaping their recent skid as they prepare to host the Seattle Kraken this weekend. With the Pacific Division race tightening, every point—even those earned in overtime losses—will be vital for Vegas as they remain tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the top spot in the division.
Sources & Original Reporting
