DALLAS — A Thrilling Finish and Impressive Home Streak
In an exciting showdown at the American Airlines Center, defenseman Thomas Harley delivered the decisive goal just nine seconds into overtime, propelling the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Stars, showcasing their dominance at home, have been on an outstanding run, boasting a 9-0-1 record in their last 10 games on their turf.
Esa Lindell contributed to Dallas’s scoreline, reinforcing the team’s strong defensive prowess. Between the pipes, Jake Oettinger was a reliable presence, making 22 saves. His performance marked his seventh consecutive home win and his 32nd victory overall this season, placing him third in the NHL rankings.
Despite their efforts, the Flyers extended a concerning stretch, recording a 0-3-1 in their last four matchups and a concerning 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. Philadelphia’s goals came from Travis Konecny and Ryan Poehling, a childhood friend of Oettinger from Lakeville, Minnesota.
At the start of overtime, Poehling secured the faceoff for his team. The puck returned to Flyers backup goalie Samuel Ersson, who had been effective since replacing Ivan Fedotov in the second period, having not conceded through 40 minutes and thwarting 15 attempts. However, a miscalculated clear intended for Travis Sanheim was intercepted by Jason Robertson, who swiftly passed it on to Harley. This maneuver resulted in the fastest overtime goal achieved in franchise history.
Key Game Insights
From the Flyers’ perspective, Konecny broke an 11-game goalless streak. Remarkably, Calder Trophy hopeful Matvei Michkov recorded an assist, marking his first point in seven games. Flyers’ goaltender Fedotov had a rough start, exiting after the first period when he conceded two goals on the Stars’ initial two shots.
For the Stars, Harley’s recent form has been noteworthy, amassing eight goals and 20 points over 18 games since top defenseman Miro Heiskanen was sidelined with a knee injury.
Crucial Moment
A pivotal moment unfolded late in the second period with Dallas narrowly holding a 2-1 lead. Flyers’ defenseman Emil Andrae cleared the puck just before it could fully cross the goal line, after a sprawling save by Ersson on Matt Duchene. A video review confirmed no goal, keeping the Flyers in the contest.
Statistics of Note
The Stars have shown a penchant for extended plays, having gone beyond the regulation time in their last four appearances. This includes two overtime triumphs and an even split in shootout experiences.
Looking Ahead
Philadelphia continues their journey on the road, facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Stars will conclude their current four-game homestand with a matchup against the Minnesota Wild on Monday.