The Dallas Stars secured their spot in the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive year by defeating the visiting Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in overtime on Saturday night.
The game was marked by profound sadness off the ice, as the father of Jets center Mark Scheifele unexpectedly passed away just hours before puck drop. There was initial uncertainty about whether Scheifele would play, but he ultimately chose to suit up. Jets coach Scott Arniel commented, “He would want him to play, and I know he`s been rooting us on here… Mark really wants to play for him tonight.”
Scheifele went on to score the game`s first goal, which would also be the Jets` only goal, on a rebound in the second period. Tragically, he was also involved in the play that led to Dallas`s game-winning goal. With only 14.8 seconds left in regulation, Scheifele tripped Sam Steel during a Stars breakaway attempt, resulting in a power play opportunity for Dallas that extended into overtime. Steel had scored the equalizer for Dallas earlier in the game.
Thomas Harley scored for Dallas on the power play just 1:33 into overtime. The Stars will now face the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final, a rematch that will decide who plays for the Stanley Cup. This game would not have reached overtime, however, without outstanding goaltending from both sides.
Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger made 22 saves, including a spectacular diving save on Mason Appleton with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation to prevent a sure goal. Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck also played a solid game, stopping 19 shots, but ended up on the losing side.
For those who follow hockey superstitions, the Jets` elimination continues the trend of the Presidents` Trophy winner (the team with the best regular-season record) failing to win the Stanley Cup. The last team to accomplish both was the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
- Western Conference Final
- (2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Round 2 Results
- (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- (1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
- (1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
- (1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Round 1 Results
- (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
- (2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- (1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
- (2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
- (1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
- (2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
- (1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
- (2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
Western Conference Final
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 21 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 2: Friday, May 23 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- Game 3: Sunday, May 25 | 3 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 27 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 5: Thursday, May 29 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
- *Game 6: Saturday, May 31 | 8 p.m. | at EDM | ABC/ESPN+
- *Game 7: Monday, June 2 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN/ESPN+
Round 2 Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Maple Leafs 5, Panthers 4
- Game 2: Maple Leafs 4, Panthers 3
- Game 3: Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
- Game 4: Panthers 2, Maple Leafs 0
- Game 5: Panthers 6, Maple Leafs 1
- Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 0
- Game 7: Sunday, May 18 | 7:30 p.m. | at TOR | TNT/Max
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
- Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
- Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
- Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
- Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
- Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 1
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
- Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
- Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
- Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
- Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
- Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
- Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
- Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
- Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
- Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
- Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
Round 1 Results
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators
- Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
- Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
- Game 4: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Senators 4, Maple Leafs 0
- Game 6: Maple Leafs 4, Senators 2
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
- Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0
- Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1
- Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2
- Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
- Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
- Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1
- Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3
- Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
- Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1
(2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
- Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
- Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
- Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
- Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2
- Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2OT)
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
- Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
- Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
- Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2
- Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1
- Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3
- Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2
- Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2OT)
(2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Colorado Avalanche
- Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
- Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
- Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
- Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
- Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2
- Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4
- Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild
- Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
- Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
- Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
- Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT)
- Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2
(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5
- Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2
- Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4
- Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1
- Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4
