It took a while, but the Dallas Stars are headed to the Western Conference Final for the second season in a row.
Matt Duchene's goal 11:42 into the second overtime gave the Stars a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche Friday night at Ball Arena and the Western Conference second-round series 4-2.
Dallas lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in the 2023 Western Conference Final.
The Stars will play the winner of the series between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks lead 3-2 with Game 6 Saturday night.
Duchene put in a loose puck from the left of Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev for the winner on Friday.
IT HAD TO BE MATT DUCHENE!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/lKoUYcgG74
— z - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 18, 2024
Duchene had also been involved in what at first looked like the game winner earlier.
Mason Marchment appeared to win it for the Stars with 7:29 left in the first overtime period with a shot from the high slot off a faceoff.
But it was immediately ruled no goal on the ice because of contact with Georgiev. Duchene was battling for position with Colorado defenseman Cale Makar near the crease, and it was ruled that Duchene interfered with Georgiev.
Mason Marchment and the Dallas Stars thought they had the series-winner but the goal was waived off due to goalie interference.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2024
The call on the ice stands after review. pic.twitter.com/UCieYk9hZF
Was no-goal the correct call?
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2024
Catch all the Game 6 OT action on Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+. pic.twitter.com/uZPQ0d0wGN
The call stood after a review.
Duchene was also foiled on a breakaway chance early in the second OT.
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was spectacular with 29 saves.
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer shuffled his lines after the second intermission, and one of the new combinations was Tyler Seguin centering captain Jamie Benn and Evgenii Dadonov. It paid off when Benn tied it 1-1 for the Stars 1:56 into the third period.
He took a backhand pass from Dadonov in the slot on the rush, made a move and slid a backhand shot past Georgiev. Seguin got the second assist.
Jamie Benn beats Georgiev with the backhander to even the score! pic.twitter.com/XuFmWEingH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2024
It was Benn's third goal of the postseason but his second marker and fifth point of the series.
Mikko Rantanen's power-play goal 5:48 into second period gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead. He beat Stars goalie Jake Oettinger high on the short side with a snap shot from bottom of the right circle.
It was his fourth goal of the playoffs, but the star winger had managed only four points in the first five games of the series.
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