Stars edge Golden Knights in Game 5, push defending champs to brink

DALLAS -- Jason Robertson scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period, and the Dallas Stars defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round at American Airlines Center on Wednesday.

The Stars’ third straight win gave them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series. They can close it out in Game 6 at Vegas on Friday (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MAX, TNT, BSSW, SN360, SN, TVAS).

“Knowing how we’ve been over the years as far as losing streaks, as far as the character in this room, we didn’t feel like we were going to lose three in a row. We just wanted to start with one and go from there,” Dallas forward Tyler Seguin said. “Our intent is to try to [win] the next one.”

It was the first victory by a home team in the series.

Wyatt Johnston had two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 25 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 1 seed from the Central Division.

“I think the resilience, obviously being down 2-0 is not the spot you want to be in going into Vegas (for Game 3),” Johnston said. “Still got a lot of work to do. Getting the job done will be the toughest, but I think it’s been great how we’ve been able to battle back.”

Mark Stone and William Carrier scored, and Adin Hill made 22 saves in his first start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Golden Knights. The defending Stanley Cup champions are the second wild card from the West.

“I still think these last two games we were right there in the second period late again,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Got away from us for puck management and discipline and allowed them to get going. We’re the defending Stanley Cup champions. There’s lots of resolve in that room, lots of winners in that room, lot of pride in that room. We have to go home and win one game at home in the playoffs. That’s something we’re certainly capable of. Will it happen? Dallas will have a lot of say in that. It’s not this obstacle that we can’t do.”

Robertson gave Dallas a 3-2 lead on the power play at 16:32, scoring on his own rebound in the left face-off circle after his shot from the top of the slot was blocked.

“That’s the playoffs. You have to win the special teams battle, you have to win the goaltending battle,” Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said. “This isn’t something we’ve turned on. We’ve got top-10 penalty kill and power play all year, just like our defensive game. This isn’t something we’ve dialed up for the playoffs. We’re playing a very good opponent, but it’s been good all year. It has to be. You don’t just crank that stuff up in the playoffs.”

Oettinger made 11 saves in the third period, including one on a breakaway by Chandler Stephenson with 2:42 left in the third period when he stretched out his right pad at the right post.

“I was on the ice watching the breakaway and said a prayer, but I really should have just trusted in Jake,” Seguin said. “He makes those big saves and timely saves, and you need a guy like that this time of year. We have so much confidence in him.”

Stone gave Vegas a 1-0 lead on the power play at 4:00 of the first period when he deflected a point shot from Noah Hanifin.

Evgenii Dadonov tied it 1-1 on a 2-on-1 at 5:02. Logan Stankoven maneuvered around sprawling Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb in the left circle and passed across to Dadonov at the back door.

“We said before the game there’s going to be momentum shifts throughout games and throughout series,” Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez said. “You’ve got to handle that with composure. I think we let our emotions get the best of us in the second there. Obviously [some] penalty trouble, but we got away from our game. Had a little too much panic in our game, too much of a fire drill. We’ve got to handle the emotional side of it.”

Matt Duchene put the Stars ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 8:04 when he backhanded a rebound through the five-hole from the top of the crease.

“I’ve had some looks so far after Game 2, a few in Game 3 there last game,” Duchene said. “I think our power play has been doing a good job. [Seguin] made a great play into [Johnston] there, had a good tip, and it’s just one of those ones you just fire to the net and it finds its way in. Going to the right places, going to the net, and every now and then you get one of those.”

Carrier tied it 2-2 at 12:31 on a wraparound at the right post after eluding Stars defenseman Esa Lindell behind the net.

“I think it’s been a real tight series, back and forth a lot,” Hanifin said. “Every game’s a battle and close, so our focus has to shift on getting the win at home. We can’t lose three in a row at home. We have to push it to a Game 7. That’s where our mindset is.”

NOTES: Jack Eichel had an assist on Stone’s goal and has seven points (three goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak to start the postseason. … Oettinger got his 16th playoff victory, passing Don Beaupre for fifth in franchise history. … The Stars have won 13 of 15 series when winning Game 5 in a best-of-7 series tied 2-2.