In a Game 7 showdown between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights, Radek Faksa fulfilled a promise to his young son by scoring a crucial goal. Before the game, Faksa, who had been out for four games due to an undisclosed injury, told his 2½-year-old that he would find the back of the net. True to his word, Faksa’s backhander, just 44 seconds into the third period, lifted the Stars to a 2-1 victory, securing their place in the second round of the NHL playoffs.
Faksa’s return to the ice was marked with a touch of sentimentality as he reflected on the promise he made. “I’m happy I did,” he said. “So I can show him the video in the morning, and we can watch it together.” Faksa’s goal came after his son had already left the arena, but the video replay would surely be a special moment for the father-son duo.
The Stars’ other goal came from the youngest player on the team, 20-year-old Wyatt Johnston, who scored his series-high fourth goal with a wrist shot from the top of the slot. Johnston’s goal came after a defensive mishap by the Knights, when Shea Theodore’s clearing attempt was intercepted by Tomas Hertl, leading to Johnston’s scoring opportunity.
Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger played a significant role in the win, stopping 21 of 22 shots and even taking the team’s only penalty, a tripping call on Ivan Barbashev. But he made key saves to keep the game close, including a crucial stop on Jack Eichel just before Johnston’s goal.
“The last period was a clinic. Just so proud of the guys and how we responded,” said Oettinger. “It’s a long playoffs, and you’re going to need different guys to step up at different times. A lot of hockey left, so hopefully a lot more heroes. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
The Stars, the top seed in the Western Conference, now advance to face the well-rested Colorado Avalanche, who had already secured their place in the second round with a Game 5 win over Winnipeg. Game 1 will be in Dallas.
Vegas, the defending Stanley Cup champions, couldn’t repeat last year’s success in Dallas, where they clinched the Western Conference finals in Game 6. Brett Howden scored the Knights’ only goal, and Adin Hill, who replaced Logan Thompson in Game 5, had 22 saves in the loss.
Stars captain Jamie Benn expressed the team’s determination, saying, “There’s probably a lot of doubters out there. After Game 2, they probably thought we couldn’t come back. A lot of believers in this room, in this organization. And we showed them.”
This marks coach Pete DeBoer’s eighth Game 7 win with four different teams, including his previous stint with the Knights. Dallas has now won Game 7s in each of its first two postseasons under DeBoer. Despite the loss, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the fine margins in a Game 7, noting how a missed chance or a hit post can shift the momentum.
For Dallas, it was a historic comeback from a 0-2 deficit, something they’ve only accomplished once before in their franchise history, back in 1968 when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. With a thrilling victory, the Stars move on to the second round, and the Knights are left to reflect on what could have been.
