Vegas Golden Knights make it a series with huge win in Game 2 against Stars

We have ourselves a series after the Vegas Golden Knights came up big in Game 2.

Trailing in the Western Conference Final after being shutout in Game 1, the Vegas Golden Knights bounced back strong against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.

It was a game where the Golden Knights really stood up and answered the bell, making things even in this series.

Robin Lehner came back in after being rested in Game 1 and pitched his fourth shutout of the postseason, while the Knights got a much-needed explosion from their offense in the second period.

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Paul Stastny got Vegas on the board early in the middle frame after putting away a centering pass from Max Pacioretty, before William Karlsson converted on the power play.

And Tomas Nosek then killed off the Stars after finishing off a beautiful passing sequence with his second goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It was just what the doctor ordered for the Golden Knights and they go into Game 3 on Thursday with a chance to build some momentum and go up in this series.

However, for now, let’s break down Game 2 between the Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars period-by-period…

First Period

After Marc-Andre Fleury started Game 1, Robin Lehner was back in for Game 2 as was Ryan Reaves who was suspended for the opening contest of the Western Conference Final.

Lehner was busy from the first drop of the puck as he turned aside a shot from Alexander Radulov, while Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin stopped a Nate Schmidt one-timer.

Vegas was playing much better than they had in Game 1 but they were still struggling to find twine and light the lamp.

Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone and Nicolas Roy were all denied by Khudobin, with the Golden Knights leading in shots on goal 8-5 at the end of the first.

Second Period

The frustration of going four periods without a single goal in this series finally boiled over, and the Golden Knights took their anger out on the Stars in the middle frame.

It started at 4:53 when Brayden McNabb joined the rush and fed a dish to Max Pacioretty, who sent a centering pass over to Paul Stastny and the forward was able to knock the puck past Anton Khudobin.

And, after waiting four periods for one goal, the Golden Knights didn’t have to wait long for their second goal of the second period.

After Jonathan Marchessault drew the penalty, Shea Theodore fed a pass to William Karlsson who moved into the circle before ripping a shot past Khudobin to put Vegas firmly in the driving seat.

Theodore did convert on the man advantage himself but it was challenged and then taken off the board for goalie interference, although Dallas’ punishment soon continued.

At 14:32 in the second, and after Robin Lehner had stoned Mattias Janmark on a breakaway, the Golden Knights scored the goal of the game.

Chandler Stephenson carried the puck into the zone before finding Nicolas Roy who gave it straight back to Stephenson, and the forward then fired a first time pass over to Tomas Nosek who one-timed the puck past Khudobin.

Third Period

Despite a fairly solid performance, Anton Khudobin was pulled for Jake Oettinger who was making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.

Oettinger made five saves on five shots but his team couldn’t get any offense going with Robin Lehner stopping all 24 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the postseason.

It was a huge win for the Golden Knights who drew even in the series, and they will now look to go up in the Western Conference Final by winning Game 3 on Thursday.

Let’s go over some notes and stats from the game…