Hertl replaced Ivan Barbašev in Vegas’ first lineup and played over 20 minutes per game for the first time in the current playoffs. Even higher ice time did not help him to break his waiting for a point. So far, his only entry in the statistics in the elimination fights is an accurate hit in the opening game of the series.
The Golden Knights entered the fifth game of the series better than the home team and took the lead after four minutes. The score was opened in the power play by the flowing Mark Stone, who also used Hertl’s screens and got the puck for Jake Oettinger.
In the very next substitution, Hertl got tangled up in the goal on the other side. Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault lost the puck when switching to the attack, and the Czech forward quickly returned to the defensive zone and didn’t have time to skate by Yevgenije Dadonov, who equalized the game in a 2 to 1 renumbering.
Dallas turned the score around in the ninth minute, but the score was 2:2. Matt Duchene’s leadoff goal was answered by William Carrier.
No other visiting hockey player overcame Oettinger in the rest of the match, the home team decided in 36:32. In the power play, Robertson struck out to help the Stars clinch an important fifth game. Dallas took a 3-2 series lead and took an important step toward eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions.
David Rittich scored for the second time in a row in the goal of Los Angeles, but even he could not contribute to the turnaround in the series. The Kings lost the game in the second period, in which they conceded three goals and lost a promising lead 2-1. Leon Draisaitl was the main contributor to the turnover, who used two passes by Connor McDavid and turned the unfavorable score around within five minutes.
Zach Hyman scored the winning goal at the end of the second period.
| NHL Playoff Round 1: |
|---|
| Western Conference – 5th Matches: |
| Dallas – Vegas 3:2 (2:2, 1:0, 0:0) |
| Goals: 6. Dadonov, 9. Duchene, 37. J. Robertson – 4. Stone, 13. W. Carrier. Shots on goal: 25:27. Spectators: 18,532. Stars of the game: 1. J. Robertson, 2. W. Johnston, 3. Oettinger (all Dallas). Series status 3:2. |
| Edmonton – Los Angeles 4:3 (1:1, 3:1, 0:1) |
| Goals: 28. and 33. Draisaitl, 11. E. Kane, 40. Hyman – 20. Laferriere, 24. Lizotte, 58. Kempe. Shots on goal: 26:21. DAVID RITTICH caught 58 minutes and 33 seconds for Los Angeles, conceding four goals from 26 shots and had a save success rate of 84.6 percent. Spectators: 18,347. Stars of the game: 1. Draisaitl, 2. Bouchard, 3. McDavid (all Edmonton). Final score of the series 4:1. |
Tags: NHL Dallas turned state series Vegas Rittich turn Los Angeles
