The NHL’s Western Conference finals were given off to an exciting get started in Recreation 1 on Friday night time, with the Vegas Blonde Knights winning 4-3 in overtime over the Dallas Stars.
Recreation 2 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) guarantees to deliver the joy once more. Can the Stars even issues up sooner than the form shifts to their house ice? Or will the Knights start in Texas with a 2-0 govern?
To aid get you able for the sport, we’ve build a information on what to look at from each and every group, together with in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Stats & Knowledge.
Subscribe to ESPN+ | Stream the NHL on ESPN
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET | Watch live on ESPN+
Layout: VGK -125 | O/U: 5.5
Notes from ESPN Stats & Knowledge
Blonde Knights
The Blonde Knights have trailed in each and every of the month seven video games they’ve performed courting to Recreation 1 in their form in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers. However they’ve received 5 of the ones seven video games.
If truth be told, seven in their 9 wins this postseason were comeback victories — equaling their maximum for one playoff month in franchise historical past (additionally seven, in 2021). Most effective 5 groups have recorded extra in a playoff season over the month 20 years: Colorado Avalanche (10 in 2022), Pittsburgh Penguins (10 in 2009), Dallas Stars (9 in 2020), Carolina Hurricanes (9 in 2006) and Los Angeles Kings (8 in 2014).
The Blonde Knights have outscored their combatants 20-5 in the second one duration this postseason. That’s the third-highest function differential in the second one duration by way of any group thru 12 playoff video games, trailing simplest the Cup-winning 1981 New York Islanders (+17) and 1979 New York Rangers (+16), who were given to the Cup Ultimate however couldn’t oppose the Montreal Canadiens from a four-peat.
Thirty-five of the 45 targets scored by way of the Blonde Knights this postseason have come at 5-on-5, which leads the league. Vegas used to be one among six NHL groups to attain 70% or larger of its targets at 5-on-5 throughout the usual season (187/267), together with the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Canadiens and Islanders.
Vegas used to be essentially the most disciplined NHL group throughout the usual season, committing simply 2.92 consequences in line with 60 mins, nevertheless it entered Recreation 1 because the least disciplined NHL group throughout the playoffs, committing 5.62 consequences in line with 60 mins this postseason.
Stars
The Stars joined the 2003 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as the one groups in Stanley Cup playoff historical past to require time beyond regulation thrice in form openers in a single postseason. The Mighty Geese controlled to let fall the sector victorious in each and every of the ones 3 video games, future this Stars group has been at the dropping lead to each and every of its video games. Anaheim reached Recreation 7 of the Cup Ultimate in 2003 sooner than falling to the New Jersey Devils.
Most effective 3 golf equipment have reached the Stanley Cup Ultimate next dropping Recreation 1 of a best-of-seven form thrice in one playoff month. Alternatively, each and every of the ones 3 groups in the long run took their lap across the rink hoisting the Stanley Cup (1991 Penguins, 2011 Boston Bruins, 2018 Washington Capitals). The Stars have a 2-0 form report this postseason next dropping Recreation 1. They’d a report of 6-20 (.231) in best-of-seven playoff form next dropping Recreation 1 previous to 2023.
Roope Hintz factored on all 3 of Dallas’ targets in Recreation 1 (one function and two assists) to spice up his playoff totals to ten targets and 12 assists, the primary Stars skater to succeed in double digits in each targets and assists throughout one postseason since each Mike Modano (10 targets and 13 assists) and Brett Hull (11 targets and 13 assists) in 2000.
Hintz surpassed Connor McDavid (20 issues) to enter the sole ownership of the playoff govern in issues with 22, which is fix with Steve Payne in 1981 for essentially the most by way of a Stars/North Stars skater thru 14 playoff video games. He can grow to be the 0.33 skater in franchise historical past to govern (outright/fix) the Stanley Cup playoffs in issues next Hull (24 in 2000) and Invoice Goldsworthy (15 in 1968) achieved that feat.
A glorious spot for the Stars in Recreation 1 used to be visual Jason Robertson — who used to be the primary Stars skater because the franchise moved to Dallas forward of the 1993-94 season to check in 100 issues throughout the usual season — ranking his first function at 5-on-5 within the Stanley Cup playoffs (each and every of his prior two targets this postseason had been at the energy play games).
