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Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Just the facts: Dallas Stars 3 Vegas Golden Knights 2 in OT on Wyatt Johnston goal despite VGK goalie Logan Thompson’s career night in net.
Series: Vegas leads Dallas, two games to one
Next game: Game 4 is Monday at 6:30PM at T-Mobile Arena
Attendance: 18,536
Quotes: VGK coach Bruce Cassidy said the Knights’ start was “unacceptable.” Stars (and former VGK) coach Pete DeBoer said, “You can’t replicate desperation.”
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It’s the first Vegas Golden Knights home game in the playoffs since the VGK hoisted the Stanley Cup last June and the big crowd here is rocking in Game 3 for VGK-Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.
Down two games to zero and their season practically on the line, the Dallas Stars came out and dictated play. With five minutes left in the first period, the Stars were outshooting Vegas, 16-4, and led 1-0 on a Wyatt Johnston goal.
Dallas played with a heightened sense of urgency and Vegas did not match the Stars’ intensity.
By the end of the period, Dallas held a commanding 18-7 lead in shots on goal and led, 1-0.
VGK goalie Logan Thompson played well. The Stars could have easily notched two or three goals if Thompson did not play so well before an announced crowd of 18,536 Saturday.
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Tickets on the VGK Ticket Exchange website were pricy, but these are the playoffs.
Take a look.
In arena news, the VGK added a dragon to the castle stage.
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Dallas’ domination continued in period two with a goal by defenseman Miro Heiskanen.
With 13:30 left in period two, the Stars were outshooting Vegas, 25-10.
Thompson was spectacular in goal.
With Dallas and Vegas playing 4-on-4, VGK defenseman Brayden McNabb turned into Paul Coffey and unleashed a beautiful shot that sailed over Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger’s shoulder for the Knights’ first goal.
Thompson stopped two Dallas breakaways midway through the second period and stoned yet another Dallas point-blank shot on the power play, leading to a Jack Eichel short-handed goal.
In a game that Dallas dominated, in the blink of an eye Game 3 was deadlocked at two apiece thanks to a McNabb goal and an Eichel shorty.
Thompson single-handedly is saving Vegas tonight.
It was 2-2 after two periods.
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Vegas clawed its way back into the game.
The Knights nearly scored the go-ahead goal.
But the third period ended in a 2-2 tie, so off to overtime went this game.
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In OT, the 20-year-old Johnston, who can’t even drink or gamble in Vegas’ casinos, scored the game-winner to give Dallas the win.