Howden, Golden Knights defeat Stars in OT in Game 1 of Western Final

LAS VEGAS --Brett Howden scored at 1:35 of overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena on Friday.

Howden scored on a rebound from behind the goal line after his initial shot missed the net.

"I just tried throwing it in there. Got lucky that it went in," Howden said. "I think [Stars goalie Jake] Oettinger put it in himself. Just tried to throw it in there and see what would happen."

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is here Sunday.

Jamie Benn tied it 3-3 for the Stars with 1:59 remaining in the third period off a scramble in front after Oettinger was pulled for an extra attacker.

William Karlsson scored twice, and Zach Whitecloud had two assists for Vegas, the top seed in the Western Conference. Adin Hill made 33 saves.

"Everyone has a different formula," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Can't always be the stars or the guys that you would expect. That's what's been good about our team. Different people step up in key moments."

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Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists, Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist and Joe Pavelski had two assists for Dallas, the No. 2 seed from the Central Division. Jake Oettinger made 33 saves.

"I didn't like our start. They were more ready to play than we were. Probably could've anticipated it," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "They were better than us. I thought we battled back in the game. Again, they were better in more areas than us most of the night, so probably the right result and we've got to up our level."

Robertson gave Dallas a 1-0 lead at 18:44 of the first period. Alex Pietrangelo sent the puck around the left boards from behind the net, but it took an awkward bounce into the left circle. Reilly Smith fanned on a clearing attempt and Hintz threw the puck toward the net, where Robertson deflected it between Hill's legs from the slot.

It was Robertson's first goal in nine games, since Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.

"I knew eventually something was going to happen," Robertson said. "I play on too good of a line not to get opportunities for the puck to finally go in. I'm sure it's a good relief for my linemates, me, everyone. I just want to look to build off that."

Karlsson tied it 1-1 at 9:17 of the second period. Whitecloud's shot from the right point hit the boards behind the net and bounced out to the left, where Karlsson shot into an open net.

"I kind of got lucky. I'm sure 'Whitey' was trying to put that on net," Karlsson said. "I just wanted to be first for the possibility of a rebound."

The Golden Knights thought they took a 2-1 lead at 10:24 when Alec Martinez's shot slid along the goal line before being cleared by Stars defenseman Thomas Harley.

Karlsson gave Vegas a 2-1 lead at 1:19 of the third period on a shot from between the face-off circles.

"I was backing up to play safe. There was a chance for me to grab the puck," Karlsson said. "It's hard to explain, but I try to be in the right place sometimes."

Hintz tied it 2-2 at 4:01 from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Pavelski.

"We respond the right way," Robertson said. "The biggest thing is we have a lot of leaders in this locker room, a lot of veterans who understand what we can do better, what we did wrong from the previous game and try to improve that. That's attributed to the coaches and staff having us prepared, and the leaders in this room."

Teddy Blueger gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead at 9:20 with his first goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Keegan Kolesar skated in on the left, held off Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen as he cut toward the net but lost his footing and slid into the crease. The puck came free, and Blueger roofed his shot from just outside the blue paint.

"[Kolesar] did all the work," Blueger said. "He took his guy wide and took it to the net. The puck was just sitting there for me. He made a nice play to me."

NOTES: Howden scored the third-fastest playoff overtime goal in Golden Knights history behind Mark Stone (50 seconds, Game 5, 2021 second round) and Nicolas Roy (1:18, Game 4, 2021 semifinals). … It was the fifth time in NHL history that each Game 1 of the conference finals/semifinals went to overtime. ... Hintz has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) this postseason and passed Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (20 points) for the NHL lead. He became the fourth player in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history to get 20 points in 14 or fewer playoff games, joining Steve Payne (13 games, 1981), Brian Bellows (14, 1991) and Bobby Smith (14, 1981). … Stone (assist) extended his home point streak to six games (11 points; five goals, six assists), matching Karlsson (2021) and Pietrangelo (2021) for the longest by a Golden Knights player in a postseason. … Vegas tied its 2021 playoff record with seven comeback wins.