Connor McDavid recovered from a costly mistake in the first overtime to score the winning goal for the Oilers in the second as Edmonton took a 1-0 series lead over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals with a 3-2 victory.
“Apologies to everyone for keeping us up a little longer,” McDavid told the TNT Sports team from Dallas, via satellite.
Surprisingly, McDavid failed to score into a nearly open net with five minutes left in the first overtime before finally winning the game in the first minute of the second overtime.
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was knocked out of position, but still managed to deflect McDavid’s wrist shot with the help of defenseman Chris Tanev to keep the score tied at 2-2.
“I should have gone in,” McDavid said afterward. “He has to go in. He’s a good goalkeeper and he tries hard to make a good play, but he has to go in.”
Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts after his winning goal
McDavid, center left, gestures toward fellow defenseman Evan Bouchard after the assist
McDavid didn’t have to wait long to correct his mistake in the second overtime, receiving a centering pass from Evan Bouchard 30 seconds into the frame before beating Oettinger with a wrist shot.
Dallas’ Tyler Seguin sent the game to overtime with his equalizer late in the third period on assists from Evgenii Dadonov and Jason Robertson.
He also scored Dallas’ first goal of the game six minutes into the second period, which got off to a precarious start for the Stars.
First Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored a minute into the frame to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead before Zach Hyman followed with a goal of his own two minutes later off an assist from McDavid.
Stars top center Roope Hintz was out of the lineup for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, while the Oilers were still without forward Adam Henrique. Both players are expected to play at some point in the series.
Surprisingly, McDavid failed to score into a nearly open net with five minutes left in the first overtime period.
The Stars went 0 for 3 on power plays in regulation, then failed to capitalize on four minutes of a man advantage after a high stick penalty against McDavid in the opening seconds of the first overtime that wasn’t called until a review of the replay at the next interruption of the game.
McDavid and Matt Duchene were skating away from each other in the center circle after the Oilers captain won the faceoff between the two to open the first overtime period. There was initially no whistle when Duchene took a stick to the face, but officials eventually changed their minds.
When Oettinger secured the puck on a Bouchard shot to stop the clock 17 seconds into overtime, and with blood dripping down Duchene’s lower lip, the officials reviewed the replay and assessed a double minor penalty.
Dallas called a timeout after three shots during the first three minutes of that penalty, but only got one more shot on net before McDavid left the penalty area.
Game two of the series will be in Dallas on Saturday night.
And the American Airlines Arena will rock again on Sunday when the NBA’s Mavericks host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.