Golden Knights Survive Elimination; Force a Game Seven as They Defeated the Stars 2-0
In a high-stakes showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights clashed in a crucial Game Six. The Stars, aiming to seal the series in hostile territory, faced off against the defending champion Golden Knights, who were just 60 minutes away from their title defense potentially ending in the first round of the playoffs. Ultimately, the Knights managed to keep their title defense alive with a hard-fought 2-0 victory on their home ice.
The first period of this contest was an absolute bloodbath. There were no goals scored, no penalties for either team, the same amount of faceoffs won, and very similar total shots on goal count. It was as evenly played a period as there has been in any playoff game this year. The tension involved with this game could be seen in the physicality that both teams played with. There were nearly 20 total hits in the first period alone, and every scoring chance had elevated importance, given that it had the feel of a low-scoring game.
In the second period, play loosened up. Both teams had more scoring chances, namely Vegas, which had two different power-play chances; however, they could not score on either one. The Stars also had a power play chance in the period, but they could not capitalize on their opportunity. This was by far the best offensive period for the Stars, as they controlled much of the puck possession time and had a game-high 12 shots on goal. However, Vegas goaltender Adin Hill was perfect all night in this elimination game when his team needed him, and he denied every chance the Stars had at gaining any momentum. With the brilliant goaltending of Hill and Dallas’ Jake Ottinger, the score would remain 0-0 heading into the third period.
Finally, a goal was scored about halfway into the final period of regulation. Knights’ defenseman Noah Hanifin ripped a wrist shot from the right-wing faceoff circle and beat Jake Ottinger right over his glove side for the game's first and only real goal. After that goal, the Knights were able to hold off Dallas for the final ten minutes of play as they only allowed the Stars to produce five shots on goal all period. As time began to wind down and very little was produced on the offensive end, Dallas decided to pull Ottinger to get an extra attacker in an attempt to tie up the game. However, veteran Mark Stone buried the empty net goal with 20 seconds left in the game to put the final nail in the coffin. This series has been everything a hockey fan could ask for, as every game has been decided by one or two goals, including an overtime finish in Game Three. The road team won each of the first four games before the Stars broke that trend by winning Game Five on home ice, and now Vegas has just answered by winning Game Six at home to set up a matchup that is the best two words in sports: Game Seven. Both teams will travel back to Dallas for Game Seven, which will be Sunday. The winner of Sunday’s contest will move on to play the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Colorado eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in five games during the first round.
