McDavid scores 2OT game-winner as Oilers top Stars in NHL series opener

Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate McDavid's g
AFP

Connor McDavid scored 32 seconds into the second overtime period to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in game one of their NHL Western Conference final clash Thursday.

Edmonton captain McDavid redirected a centering pass from Evan Bouchard past Stars goalie Jake Oettinger to seal the win against the Western Conference top seeds.

Dallas host game two of the best-of-seven series on Saturday.

The Oilers, with goals from Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, had led 2-0, but Tyler Seguin scored twice to tie it up.

McDavid was denied in the first overtime, firing from in front of the net only for Oettinger to make a spectacular stick save.

Oettinger finished with 35 saves and Stuart Skinner also made 35 saves for the second-seeded Oilers.

Draisaitl put Edmonton up 1-0 less than a minute into the second period when he managed to latch onto a bouncing puck and fired past Oettinger.

Hyman made it 2-0 at 4:17 of the second, shrugging off Stars defenseman Chris Tanev and sliding a shot between Oettinger’s pads.

Seguin cut the lead to 2-1 at 6:11 of the second after Edmonton’s Brett Kulak made a clumsy clearance attempt and the puck found the stick of Stars captain Jamie Benn, who eluded Skinner and found Seguin.

Seguin scored on a rebound to tie it at 2-2 at 16:37 of the third.

The Stars, 0-for-3 on power plays in regulation, failed to capitalize on a man advantage in the first overtime also, coming up empty when a four-minute double minor was called on McDavid for high sticking.

Authored by Afp via Breitbart May 23rd 2024