The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a 3-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final and are a win away from the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas earned the top seed in the Western Conference with a strong regular season, and they only needed five games to eliminate the Winnipeg Jets in the first round. Against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, Vegas managed to limit one of the league’s most high-powered offenses at five-on-five, and took the series in six games.
Jack Eichel, in his first postseason appearance, has more than lived up to expectations. He leads the Golden Knights in goals (6), assists (8), and points (14). Eichel is an early contender for the Conn Smythe Trophy, and another great series against a stingy Stars defense will get him one step closer to the award.
In their first-round series against the Minnesota Wild, the Stars fell behind 2-1 before taking over and winning the last three games. Last round, Dallas got all it could handle from the Seattle Kraken, who pushed the series to seven games. A couple of shaky outings from Jake Oettinger gave the Kraken some life, but the Stars completely controlled the decisive Game 7.
Here is how to keep up with the schedule and results from the Western Conference Final.
*if necessary
Game 4: Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT)
It seems the third overtime game was the charm for the Stars. After falling in the extra period in Games 1 and 2, Dallas kept its season alive with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4. Vegas still leads the series 3-1 and will host Game 5.
For now, though, Dallas fans can rejoice with their first win of the Western Conference Final. Joe Pavelski is the player to thank, as he scored the game-winner at 3:18 of overtime. Jason Robertson was the standout throughout the contest, as he scored two goals to keep Dallas’ offense afloat.
William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault accounted for Vegas’ two goals.
The Stars played without captain Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov because of suspension and injury, respectively, and they fought hard enough to stave off elimination. Benn will remain suspended for Game 5, while Dadonov’s status is unclear.
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Stars 3 (OT)
The Golden Knights took care of business in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, beating the visiting Stars 4-3 in overtime thanks to a two-goal performance from William Karlsson and a game-winner from Brett Howden.
Dallas opened the scoring via a Jason Robertson goal with just over a minute remaining in the first period, but it was all Vegas from then. Karlsson scored the game’s next two goals to give Vegas its first lead, and after Dallas’ Roope Hintz scored a game-tier at 4:01 of the third, Teddy Blueger swung it back in Vegas’ favor with a goal of his own at the 9:20 mark.
But just when it looked like Dallas was done, Jamie Benn scored a game-tying goal with less than two minutes remaining in regulation to send it to overtime. Overtime, however, was a quick affair as Howden scored the game-winner by banking the puck off Stars goalie Jake Oettinger at 1:35 of the extra period. The Golden Knights are now 2-0 in overtime games this postseason, while the Stars are 0-3.
Vegas’ victory spoiled the return of Stars coach Pete DeBoer, who was fired by the Golden Knights after coaching the team the last three seasons. DeBoer will hope for redemption in Game 2 as the series will stick in Vegas.
Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Stars 2 (OT)
The Golden Knights beat the Stars in overtime for a second consecutive game, winning 3-2 this time despite trailing for almost the entire third period. Jonathan Marchessault tied the game at 2-2 at 17:38 of the third period; then Chandler Stephenson finished the Stars off with a game-winner just over a minute into the OT period. The Golden Knights remain outstanding in overtime this postseason, as they’re now 3-0 in such games, while the Stars are 0-4.
Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen quieted the crowd early by scoring a wrist shot goal less than three minutes into the game, but Vegas’ Mark Stone responded with a power play goal at 10:08 of the first period to even it at 1-1. Dallas would then take control, as Jason Robertson gave his team the lead back with a snapshot goal at 9:21 of the second period while goalie Jake Oettinger was masterful in the net.
But with less than three minutes left in regulation, Marchessault scored the equalizing goal off a nifty pass from Jack Eichel to tie the game in the eventual overtime victory.
Stephenson, Marchessault, and Stone each had a goal and an assist, while goalie Adin Hill had a productive afternoon in the net with 26 saves.
Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Stars 0
Just 7:20 into Game 3, the Dallas Stars had fallen behind 3-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights, lost captain Jamie Benn to a game misconduct and pulled starting goaltender Jake Oettinger.
The Golden Knights then took a 4-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the second period, and that score held until the final buzzer. The frustration in Dallas could be seen on the ice and in the stands. Late in the second frame, Max Domi let his emotions get the best of him, and he took a total of 14 minutes in penalties.
As if following their team’s lead, the fans reacted by throwing exorbitantly priced beverages and snacks onto the ice.
To make matters even worse for Dallas, Evgenii Dadonov left the game with an injury and did not return. His status for Game 4 is unknown, and that’s also the case for Benn, who may have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for attempting to rearrange Stone’s teeth.
As embarrassing a night as it was for the Stars, the Golden Knights have to be riding high. They now have a 3-0 lead in the series, and a win in Game 4 will send them to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in the franchise’s fledgling history.
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Lucas Raymond to an eight-year, $64.6 million contract Monday, completing a deal with one of their best young players less than 72 hours before training camp begins.
Raymond will count $8.075 million against the salary cap through 2032. The 22-year-old was a restricted free agent without a contract for the upcoming NHL season and was coming off setting career highs with 31 goals, 41 assists and 72 points.
The Red Wings have another one of those in defenceman Moritz Seider, who won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2021-22.
Detroit is looking to end an eight-year playoff drought dating to the Original Six franchise’s last appearance in 2016.
Raymond, a Swede who was the fourth pick in 2020, has 174 points in 238 games since breaking into the league.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kirk Cousins led a flawless last-minute drive for Atlanta and connected with Drake London for a 7-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to give the Falcons a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
Saquon Barkley dropped a short pass that stopped the clock with 1:46 left and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal instead of a game-sealing first down. That was plenty of time for Cousins — especially against an Eagles defense playing soft coverage with a nonexistent pass rush.
The 36-year-old veteran, playing his second game since tearing his Achilles tendon last Oct. 29 while playing for Minnesota, shook off an uneven effort and hit Darnell Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the decisive drive.
Cousins found London on a short pass to his right for the tying score, and Younghoe Koo put Atlanta (1-1) on top with a 48-yard extra point after London was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The go-ahead drive took just 65 seconds.
Jalen Hurts had his final pass intercepted by Jessie Bates III to seal Atlanta’s win and set off a wild celebration on the sideline.
The Eagles (1-1) went ahead on Hurts’ 1-yard tush push score with 6:47 left. Barkley finished with 95 yards on 22 carries in his home debut for Philadelphia, but his drop provided the Falcons with some hope.
And then Cousins started playing like the QB Atlanta thought it was getting when it signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Cousins finished 20 of 29 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Atlanta’s first TD was a 41-yarder from Cousins to Mooney, who finished with three catches for 88 yards.
Hurts was 23 of 30 for 183 yards, including a touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring injury, Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a score.
Jake Elliott kicked two field goals for the Eagles. His 28-yarder with 1:39 left made it 21-15.
Atlanta kept stalling in the red zone, getting three field goals from Koo, before Cousins fired over the middle to Mooney, who shook loose from C.J. Gardner-Johnson and left him on the turf before he somersaulted into the end zone with 1:21 left in the third quarter for a 15-10 lead. Cousins failed on the 2-point conversion pass.
Hurts had some juice in his step during a second-quarter TD drive, running with abandon for big plays much like he did in the 2022 season. He spiked the ball in a rare, raw show of emotion on a 23-yard run, earning a delay-of-game penalty. He shrugged off the 5-yard setback and scrambled for 9 yards and 15 yards to move the Eagles to Atlanta’s 19.
With comedian Shane Gillis and actor Bradley Cooper among the fans cheering on the Eagles, Hurts connected with Smith in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard TD that made it 7-3.
Under new defensive coordinator Vince Fangio, the Eagles have established an early knack for allowing long drives that end with three points instead of seven. Koo kicked field goals of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the last one enough for a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. In their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20.
Questionable call
Rather than take a chip-shot field goal from Elliott, the Eagles’ fourth-and-4 gamble at Atlanta’s 9-yard line in the first quarter failed when Hurts threw an incomplete pass.
Elliott kicked a 29-yarder with 4:31 left in the third quarter for a 10-9 lead.
Running wild
Bijan Robinson ran for 97 yards for the Falcons. The Eagles stuffed him late on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 39.
Barkley was quiet until the go-ahead drive, a week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns against Green Bay. Eagles fans booed when the opening drive of the game ended without Barkley touching the ball. They went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive. Barkley had 40 yards rushing in the first half.
Foles honored
Former Eagles QB Nick Foles, who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title, served as an honorary captain and led the crowd in a rendition of “Fly, Eagles, Fly.”
Injuries
The Falcons played without LB Nate Landman (calf, quad).
Up next
Atlanta hosts Super Bowl champion Kansas City on Sunday.
TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.
The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.
Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.
“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”
Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.
Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.
Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.
Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.
Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.
Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
