Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 36: Stars tie series with 3-1 win in Game 2
After a thrilling Game 1 that needed double overtime to find the victor, it set the tone for what looked to be an interesting Western Conference Final between the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers. However, after losing another Game 1 in these playoffs, the Stars needed a victory if they wanted to avoid going down 2-0 in the series before going to Edmonton.
Things got off on the right foot for Dallas, as it took only 3:39 for the Stars to get on the board. It was the captain Jamie Benn who got the job done, as he found himself on a 2-on-1, and after looking off Logan Stankoven, he fired it past Stuart Skinner to make it 1-0 in the game.
JAMIE BENN BEATS SKINNER DOWN LOW FOR THE FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BLTjBa7KCh
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 26, 2024It didn’t take the Oilers long to respond though. Cody Ceci decided to carry the puck up the ice himself, and then handed it off to Connor Brown, who threw the puck on net and then pounced on his own rebound to tie the game just 44 seconds later.
connor brown’s first of the playoffs tie it up. pic.twitter.com/hJX2Uhb5CY
— zach (@zjlaing) May 26, 2024Despite the two early goals, neither team got another goal in the first period, or even the second period. The Oilers were the better team in the first, but the Stars were the better team in the second, and both teams probably had to have some regret over not burying any of the chances that they had.
But which team would regret it more? Well, it ended up being the Oilers, because 4:23 into the third period, Ryan Suter took a shot from the point, and Mason Marchment deflected it past Skinner to give the Stars the lead again at 2-1.
MASON MARCHMENT GIVES THE STARS THE LEAD 😱 pic.twitter.com/zX9HRC5fQW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 26, 2024The Oilers pressed for the tying goal, but they couldn’t get anything past Jake Oettinger as the third period continued to wind away. Esa Lindell eventually sealed the game with an empty net goal, and the Stars tied the series at 1-1 on the back of a 3-1 win. Benn and Wyatt Johnston both finished the night with two points each for the Stars, while Oettinger stopped 28 of 29 shots to get the win.