By NHL Public Relations

May 23, 2023

The Stars aim to cut the Golden Knights’ series lead in half when they return home for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on ESPN, ESPN+, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.

The Stars franchise has overcome a 2-0 series deficit to win a best-of-seven once previously – the 1968 Quarterfinals, when the Minnesota North Stars rallied past the Kings to earn their first-ever series victory. Vegas, meanwhile, is 2-0 all-time when it takes a 3-0 series lead (2020 R1 & 2018 R1).

Miro Heiskanen scored in Game 2 and has 10-33—43 in 62 career postseason games. He can surpass Ray Bourque (11-32—43 in 42 GP) and Denis Potvin (16-27—43 in 42 GP) for the third-most playoff points among NHL defensemen before age 24 – Paul Coffey (32-50—82 in 67 GP) and Cale Makar (15-45—60 in 55 GP) rank first and second, respectively.

Vegas overcame a deficit to win for the fourth straight game and eighth time in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the help of Chandler Stephenson’s overtime winner. Should they do so again Tuesday, the Golden Knights would become just the eighth team in NHL history with nine or more comeback wins in a single playoff year, following the 2022 Avalanche (10), 2009 Penguins (10), 2020 Stars (9), 2006 Hurricanes (9), 1999 Stars (9), 1980 Islanders (9) and 1971 Canadiens (9). Six of those seven teams went on to win the Stanley Cup, with Dallas (4-2 L in 2020 vs. TBL) standing as the only exception.

Similar to the Panthers and Hurricanes, the Golden Knights and Stars are also engaged in a tightly-contested series and have required overtime in each of their first two games. The 2023 Conference Finals are already the first in NHL history to have each of the first four games during the penultimate round of the postseason decided by a one-goal margin – the previous benchmark was three (1932, 1945 & 1960).

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 23, 2023