Updated 06:18 | Posted at 06:15
New York. The Florida Panthers must continue to wait for their opponent in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Dallas won tonight’s “Do-or-die” game against Vegas – after a sudden-death decision by 38-year-old icon Joe Pavelski.
– We never give up. We’ll show them,” says Finnish archery king Rob Hintz after winning 3-2.
The Knights from Vegas really wanted to “do” Florida at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, complete their “sweep” and prepare for the Stanley Cup Final – and it started promisingly again.
Just over four minutes later, Swede William Karlsson scored his eighth qualifying goal of the year – which took him to the sole lead in the Blue and Yellow scoring league.
Veteran rule
But the Stars were determined not to actually finish the season past the Conference Final Four, as they played their best game of the series and made it 2-2 full time.
Then when they got a power play a few minutes into overtime, the senior playoffs icon took over the show.
Finnish duo Rob Hintz and Miro Heiskanen took over and Joe Pavelski, 38, scored his 73rd playoff goal.
– This is one of the most beautiful things he said at a press conference after that.
– We only won one victory, but we have to keep playing for a few more days and that was the goal tonight.
Coach Pete DeBoer wasn’t surprised that it was Pavelski who became a champion — once again.
– No, he lives for these moments. He wants to be the one to decide. I’ve seen this movie before and it never gets old, like you say.
Try the Swede
DeBoer also took the opportunity to pay tribute to 26-year-old Fredrik Olofsson-Scone who made his playoff debut in the absence of suspended team captain Jimmy Bean and injured forward Yevgeny Dadonov and then decided the entire game on a free throw late in the third period.
– We’ve had great contributions from everyone who joined the team tonight, including Olofsson. This shows that we have breadth in the team.
Vegas will get another chance to score the game ball at home at the T-Mobile Arena on Sunday night, but the Stars intend to make it difficult for them even then.
– We never give up. We’ll show them, says Rob Hintz.