Stephenson, Golden Knights rally for OT win against Stars in Game 2

LAS VEGAS --Chandler Stephenson scored 1:12 into overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday.

Stephenson scored into an open net after Shea Theodore's initial shot went under the arm of Jake Oettinger.

"It's my first [playoff overtime goal], so anytime you're in the playoffs, and watching it growing up, to be able to get a game-winner is pretty special," Stephenson said. "It hasn't really hit me yet that it happened. It's cool and to go up 2-0 is important for our group."

Game 3 of the best-of-7 series will be in Dallas on Tuesday.

"You always want to take advantage of home ice," Vegas forward Jack Eichel said. "Obviously, we know they're going to come out hard and try to do the same in their home rink. We know that it's going to be a competitive game."

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Stars series coverage]

The Stars, who are 0-4 in overtime games this postseason, had a chance to win it just 28 seconds into the extra period, but Adin Hill stopped a one-timer from Wyatt Johnston from point-blank range.

"That's part of the playoff journey, the teams that go deep find ways to win in overtime," Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. "I really liked our game tonight, thought we did a bunch of really good things, fixed a lot of things from Game 1 (a 4-3 overtime loss). … Our chance in overtime was as good or better than theirs. We just have to stick them in the net."

Stephenson, Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault each had a goal and an assist, and Hill made 26 saves for Vegas, which is the top seed from the Western Conference.

"We tried to build in a culture that we're going to use everybody and rely on everybody," Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We're going to expect our best players to be the best players and followers to follow along and do what they do best. We're going to give them an opportunity to do that, as well. We're going to play them so they feel like they have value on the team."

Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen scored, and Ryan Suter had two assists for Dallas, which is the No. 2 seed from the Central Division. Oettinger made 21 saves.

"I mean, sure, we could've won both games," DeBoer said. "They held serve at home, we've got to go and do the same thing. I don't think it's less troubling that we lost both games in overtime. I think the positive piece is that we played a much better game tonight, and if we play that type of game, we've got a chance to win when we go home."

Marchessault tied it 2-2 at 17:38 of the third period with a one-timer from the low slot off a backhand pass from Eichel from below the goal line.

"It was just one of those parts of our game plan. It was just a good forecheck," Marchessault said. "Jack, as usual, just an amazing player who has amazing vision. He threw it out there in the middle. He kind of knew our forecheck routes. I was just passing by and I just had to put it in."

Vegas outshot Dallas 12-10 in the third period after it was limited to 10 shots through the first two periods.

"We weren't our best by any means in the first 40 minutes, but we found what makes us a good team in the third," Eichel said. "We were able to find a way to win."

Heiskanen gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 2:47 of the first period when his shot from the top of the right circle deflected off the stick of Theodore and fluttered over Hill.

Stone tied it 1-1 during a 5-on-3 power play at 10:08. Stephenson tried to send a backdoor pass to Eichel, but the puck deflected off the skate of Esa Lindell to Stone, who scored five-hole on Oettinger.

Robertson put the Stars back in front 2-1 with his own power-play goal at 9:21 of the second period. He buried a rebound in the slot after Evgenii Dadonov's one-timer was blocked by Brayden McNabb.

"We want to be good on special teams the whole series," Robertson said. "You've got to take what you can; those opportunities don't come often. We got one, but we need to work on it, keep practicing, work on things and try to get more."

NOTES:Vegas has eight comeback wins this postseason, including in each of its past four games. … Marchessault has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in his past six games. He had two assists in his first seven games this postseason. … Robertson has scored in consecutive games after failing to score in his previous eight.