Through three games, the Western Conference Final between the Stars and Golden Knights has been devoid of offense and lacking explosive rushes, a defensive clinic punctuated by strong goaltending.
The combination has birthed a series built upon feasting on mistakes, one that feeds into the game balancing on an edge. At any moment, the wrong error can lead to the game-changing moment, one that can move a team a victory closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
During the Stars' 3-2 win in Game 3 on Thursday night, that moment came 31 seconds into overtime after a see-saw game, when Alexander Radulov rang the post on the game-winning goal, boosting Dallas to a 2-1 series lead over Vegas.
Radulov broke into the zone by himself after a feed from Joe Pavelski and sniped a shot far side past Vegas goalie Robin Lehner. It was Radulov's eighth goal of the playoffs, and the quickest overtime goal in Stars history.
"That's playoff hockey," Jamie Oleksiak said. "A lot of unexpected things happen, and I think that was a good one for the fans. Textbook for us, bend not break."
With one more win, the Stars would inch within five wins of the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2000.
Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin made 38 saves, including a massive stop on William Karlsson's breakaway in the second period and gargantuan ones on Alex Tuch during a third-period power play.
Jamie Oleksiak also scored for the Stars, while Shea Theodore's power-play goal was Vegas' first tally.
Dallas' moment looked like it belonged to Jamie Benn midway through the third period.
Benn beat Robin Lehner between his legs on the rush, continuing his strong postseason and the Stars captain now has 15 points in 19 playoff games. It was a goal created by Joel Kiviranta's hard work along the boards, and set up by Tyler Seguin's pass. It was how the Stars needed someone to own the action, and could have pushed the Stars two wins away from winning the West.
Tuch's tying goal on a third-period power play stole Benn's game-winning moment.
The Stars' moment also looked like it might have come in the final 30 seconds of the second period.
As Vegas circled in the offensive zone late in the second period, the Golden Knights lost structure first and then the puck when Jamie Oleksiak blocked a shot, before leading the rush. Mark Stone stumbled getting back to his own net. Oleksiak outraced Alec Martinez to the Vegas blue line, and then tucked a backhand past Lehner.
The goal ended the Stars' scoreless streak after more than 150 minutes, since John Klingberg scored on the team's first shot in Game 1. Theodore's goal made sure Oleksiak's wasn't the game-winning goal, either.
"They're a highly skilled team with good speed," Stars defenseman Esa Lindell said before Game 3. "Last game, we saw when we turned the pucks over and we didn't get them deep what happens."
The Stars should be used to this style of game.
Throughout the regular season, they engaged in low-scoring games. They created their offense from defense, pouncing on mistakes to make their strong goaltending hold up. They suffocated other team's offenses and counted on striking at the right time to pile up points.
Often enough, the Stars were able to find the big moment, overcoming a sluggish start and a poor finish to be the league's best team across four months of the season.
In Game 1, they capitalized on an early chance and locked it down from there. In Game 2, their own errors cost them goals. In Game 3, they waited for a big moment.
"I think the games that we've won and we've played well, I feel like we're emotionally invested right from the start," Stars forward Blake Comeau said. "The games where we maybe haven't had good starts, or haven't won, I feel like there's been lapses in our games. At this point in the season, those will cost you."
Radulov provided the big moment for Dallas on Thursday.
