Recap: Stars' season ends in heartbreaking fashion in decisive Game 7

CALGARY, Alberta --It was a game that will go down as one of the greatest goaltending performances in Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 7 history, but unfortunately it also marked the end of the season for the Stars.

Jake Oettinger's 64-save performance was the stuff of legend. The 23-year-old entered the playoffs as an unknown to many but came out of it as a household name. He did everything he could to keep the Stars afloat in their decisive Game 7 against the Flames, including a 24-save effort in the second period alone.
But it was Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau who ultimately ended the season for Oettinger and the Stars, scoring with five minutes remaining in overtime to send Calgary to the second round and a date with the Edmonton Oilers.
It was a heartbreaking way to end a series that had an incredible goalie duel between Oettinger and Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom. To give you a sense of how close the series was, the Flames finished it with 15 goals to the Stars' 14.

Oettinger became just the second goaltender in NHL history to record at least 60 saves in a Game 7 (since 1955 when shots on goal were first tracked), following the Islanders' Kelly Hrudey (73 saves in 1987 DSF at Washington). He also shattered the franchise record for saves in a Game 7 set by Ben Bishop (52 saves) in the 2019 Second Round in St. Louis - a contest that went to double overtime.
Oettinger recorded 272 saves in the series, which is the third most by any goaltender in a playoff series, behind Curtis Joseph (277 in 1993 DF with Toronto) and Jonas Hiller (274 in 2009 CSF with Anaheim).
As banged up as they might've been, the Stars gave it everything they had. Already without Luke Glendening for Game 7, the Stars had to make a last-minute adjustment before puck-drop when Roope Hintz was scratched because of a reaction to treatment for an oblique injury, according to head coach Rick Bowness. Hintz even took pregame warmups alongside familiar linemates Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski.
Then, they were forced to play with 11 forwards after Radek Faksa suffered an upper-body injury late in the second period and didn't return.
The game started off on the right foot for Dallas, with Jamie Benn opening the scoring just 40 seconds into the first period for his first goal of the series.

Per NHL Stats, Benn's goal marked the fifth-fastest opening goal in a Game 7 in NHL history. The only fastest goals to begin a Game 7 were scored by Jean Beliveau (0:14 in 1965 SCF with Montreal), Kirk Muller (0:14 in 1988 DF with New Jersey), Gary Dornhoefer (0:19 in 1975 SF with Philadelphia) and Brian Gionta (0:32 in 2010 CSF with Montreal).
It stayed that way until the 1:46 mark of the second period when Tyler Toffoli scored on a deflection off Oliver Kylington's point shot.
The Stars responded swiftly, scoring just 31 seconds later when Vladislav Namestnikov buried a one-timer to restore a one-goal lead.

But a second period that was dominated by the Flames eventually broke their way when Matthew Tkachuk tallied his first goal of the series as time was expiring on a Calgary power play at the 11:16 mark.
The game went scoreless in the third period despite a breakaway from Jacob Peterson with seven minutes left in regulation that would've put the Stars up by one if not for a key blocker save by Markstrom.
Once overtime started, Dallas had its chances. Tyler Seguin was open backdoor as Joel Kiviranta cut to the net, but his pass caromed out of harm's way. Miro Heiskanen had multiple Grade A looks but wasn't able to get one past Markstrom. Truly a game of inches.
Though the emotions are still raw and the realization still setting in that their season is over, the Stars can leave knowing they laid it all on the line.
They also got to witness a young man blossom into a franchise goalie before their very eyes.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.