By NHL Public Relations

May 21, 2023

Game 2 of the Western Conference Final is set for Sunday afternoon on ABC and ESPN+ in the U.S. as well as Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports in Canada.

The Stars will look to rally from a 1-0 series deficit for the third consecutive round, while the Golden Knights aim to take a 2-0 lead for the third time in franchise history – they have gone on to win the series in the two times they have done so to date.

After falling to the Golden Knights in overtime of Game 1, the Stars find themselves in a similar situation to the first two rounds – they lost the opener to both the Wild and Kraken before evening the series in Game 2 and eventually eliminating their opponent.

Only one team in Stanley Cup Playoffs history has trailed 1-0 in three different best-of-seven series before advancing to the Final in the same postseason – the Mario Lemieux-led Penguins did so in the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs before eventually winning the franchise’s first championship.

Roope Hintz recorded his fifth three-point outing of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 1, the most in a single postseason in Stars/North Stars history. Only four players over the past 30 years have more three-point contests in a single playoff year: Leon Draisaitl (7 GP in 2022), Wayne Gretzky (7 GP in 1993), Connor McDavid (6 GP in 2022) and Nikita Kucherov (6 GP in 2021).

William Karlsson, who has been with the Golden Knights since their inaugural season, recorded a multi-goal outing in Game 1 to boost his 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs totals to 7-3—10 (12 GP). He sits one goal shy of matching the most in a single postseason in franchise history, held by current teammate Jonathan Marchessault (8 in 20 GP; 2018) and Alex Tuch (8 in 20 GP; 2020).

Joe Pavelski (24) enters play one goal shy from surpassing Jean Beliveau and tying Gordie Howe for the fourth-most playoff goals after age 35 in NHL history. The only others with more are Mark Recchi (32), Teemu Selanne (26) and Brett Hull (26).  

Jake Oettinger recorded 33 saves as the Stars dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Oettinger enters play 22-1-3 (.933 SV%, 2.02 GAA) following a loss in 2022-23 (regular season and playoffs combined). 

Vegas, which holds a 5-2 record on home ice in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, has made T-Mobile Arena a difficult venue for opposing teams since joining the League in 2017-18.

The Golden Knights have an all-time home record of 27-14 in the postseason (including wins as the designated home team in 2020), more victories as the home team than six other current franchises despite being the second-newest team in the League.

Alec Martinez (5) and Alex Pietrangelo (4) enter play sitting in the top six for the most goals among active defensemen in the Conference Finals/Semifinals.  

Most Goals in Conference Finals/Semifinals, Active Defensemen 

• 6 – Victor Hedman 
• 5 – Alec Martinez  
• 4 – Alex Pietrangelo 
• 4 – Ryan McDonagh 
• 4 – Drew Doughty 

Vegas enters play leading the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with seven comeback wins, one shy from surpassing the 2021 postseason for the most in a playoff year in franchise history.

Since entering the league in 2017-18, Vegas has recorded 21 comeback victories which are tied with Colorado for the most over that span. 

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 21, 2023, NHL Stats Resources