In Dallas, Evan Bouchard collected a double with 30 seconds gone in extra time on Saturday afternoon in 4-3 win for the visiting Edmonton Oilers over the Stars.
“We knew they were a good team. We had to play a really good game, and we did that” Bouchard said. “That’s what makes us so special, we can compete against any team. Now we know what we have in here.”
Calvin Pickard made 24 saves in the win.
The Oilers moved to 32-18-1.
“In the second period, Dallas started taking over and was probably the better team. We regrouped after the second period, and we were able to play a really strong third. A lot of credit to the guys,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We talked about how good Dallas is off the rush and how they score a lot of goals in that way, and I thought we did a really good job on the forecheck with the defense pinching, knowing when not to. The biggest thing is probably the forwards and how they work to get back.”
The two teams combined for six goals in the middle frame.
Mason Marchment hit off the power play with 68 seconds gone in the middle frame for a 1-0 lead to Dallas.
“I thought they kind of had the upper side on us in the first period, but in the second period, we really pushed back and played our game,” Marchment said. “We saw when we played our game, it’s hard for them to play theirs. The third was back and forth there, a little chippy. I didn’t get to see the penalty in overtime, but kind of a tough bounce. We’ll take the point.”
Bouchard potted his fist of the game at 2:03 of the second.
“I think the more you control momentum, the better it is going to be for your team. I thought we did a good job of that tonight,” Bouchard said. “Goals going in back and forth, if we can clean that up a little bit, I think we’re going to be just fine.”
The Stars dropped to 34-14-7.
Dallas reclaimed the lead at 4:47 with a marker from Thomas Harley , hitting off a pass from Matt Duchene.
“[Duchene] is a really smart player. He’s skilled enough to make that pass. For me, I just have to recognize where the open space is and hit it at the right time,” Harley said. “I just had to stick it in the net. I had the easy part.”
Corey Perry scored to tie the game, 2-2, at 6:55 off a deflection in front of the net.
“[I’m] just trying to give [McDavid and Leon Draisatl] time and space,” Perry said. “You know [McDavid] is going to be skating and moving around, cutbacks and all that fun stuff. You set a little pick and let him go, and then get back to the front of the net. I spent a lot of time five feet in front of Oettinger tonight, and I’m no stranger to being there.”
The Oilers took their first lead of the game with a shorthanded strike by Derek Ryan at 18:42 for a short-lived 3-2 advantage..
Duchene hit with 58 seconds left in the middle frame for a 3-3 tie.
Jake Oettinger made 20 saves in the loss.
“We kind of all know what we need to do when we’re out there,” Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston said. “It just comes down to making those plays, whether it’s getting that clear if there’s an opportunity, or blocking a shot. Obviously [Oettinger] or [Scott Wedgewood], whoever is in net, making those big saves. [Oettinger] was great there on that 5-on-3, and everyone did their part.”
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