Despite Pavelski's Epic Return, Kraken Stun Stars With a 5-4 OT Win in Game 1
After a much-needed break, the Dallas Stars returned to playoff action and hosted the Seattle Kraken in Game 1 of their second-round series at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. Joe Pavelski scored four goals in his much-anticipated return, but the Stars fell to the Kraken 5-4 in overtime. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger made 39 saves in a losing effort. Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer stopped 31 saves for a win. It wasn't long before Pavelski scored his first goal of the postseason. He opened the scoring for a 1-0 Stars lead at 2:25 into the first period. He fired a wrister into the net for the game's first goal. Jaden Schwartz tied the game 1-1 with his third postseason goal at 11:25 of the first period. Schwartz completed a slick play from Morgan Geekie and Jordan Eberle through the five-hole for the equalizer. Pavelski scored his second postseason goal for a 2-1 Stars lead at 12:18 of the first period. He redirected Thomas Harley's point shot for the go-ahead goal. The Stars' defense appeared to fall apart late in the first period as the Kraken scored three unanswered goals in less than a minute. Justin Schultz fired a wrist shot home for his second postseason goal to tie the game 2-2 at 14:28, Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his third postseason goal to put the Kraken up 3-2 at 14:39, and Jordan Eberle tipped the puck home for his second postseason goal to make it 4-2 Kraken at 15:20. The Stars trailed 4-2 after the first period. The Kraken edged the home team in shots, 12-11. Neither team scored in the second period. The Stars continued to trail 4-2 at the end of the second period. The Kraken led in shots, 26-20. The game took a physical turn when Mason Marchment was called for tripping Morgan Geekie midway through the third period. The frustration boiled over, and as a result, Marchment cross-checked and punched Geekie. The former got a two-minute penalty. The Stars made it a one-goal game at 9:50 of the third period. Pavelski completed his hat trick with his third postseason goal. He swooped in to put home a rebound from Jamie Benn's shot for his third goal of the game. He became the second player in franchise history with two playoff hat tricks. Dino Ciccarelli had two playoff hat tricks in 1981 and 1982. The Stars battled back to tie the game 4-4 at 13:23 of the third period. Pavelski found the puck and fired it in the net for his fourth goal of the game and the postseason. The game was tied 4-4 at the end of regulation and went into overtime. Shots were 34-31 in favor of the Kraken. Yanni Gourde sealed the deal in overtime with his second postseason goal at 12:17. Gourde cleaned up a loose puck for the game-winner. The Stars host the Kraken in Game 2 on Thursday at 8:30 pm Central.