Texas Stars captain, Curtis McKenzie, scored the game-winning goal two minutes into overtime to push the series back north to Abbotsford. Jack Becker earned the primary assist by collecting the puck behind the net and shoveling it in front for McKenzie, who quickly whipped the puck past Artürs Šilovs for the game-winning goal. Abbotsford still holds a 3-2 series lead, and games six and seven will be in Abbotsford.
This was the third overtime in the first five games of the series, but also the only one that went the Stars' way. “It's that time of year,” head coach Neil Graham said when asked about how close this series has been. “When you're in the final four, everyone's structured, everyone's detailed, it’s trying to outlast your opponent in those areas … we did a really good job of that for the most part.”
It was McKenzie’s fifth goal of the playoffs and his first of the series. “Absolutely up there,” McKenzie said when asked where the goal ranks in his career. “This group has been so fun, and I just want to keep riding it.” McKenzie was also a force physically tonight, getting into a scrap at the end of the second period.
Magnus Hellberg earned his first start of the series after a spectacular relief performance in game four. He held the Canucks to just one goal, saving 30 of 31 shots. “Magnus did a great job coming in relief last game. [He] came in and did a great job here today,” Coach Graham said. “And I think it speaks to the closeness of our locker room, guys rally around each other. They want to help someone get his feet under him, do a good job, and what a job by Magnus.”
Texas once again started the game strong. They scored first for the third time in the series thanks to the smooth hands of Justin Hryckowian. On the power play, the rookie made a quick move from his forehand to his backhand in the slot and elevated the puck past Šilovs to give the Stars the 1-0 lead early in the game. Texas continued their domination in the first half of the frame outshooting the Canucks 8-2.
However, the Canucks flipped the script in the final 10 minutes of the opening segment. They outshot the Stars 7-1, and their leading scorer, Linus Karlsson, had some particularly dangerous chances on the power play, but Hellberg kept Abbotsford off the board. This was just the beginning of what turned into a stellar start for the big Swede.
The second was more back and forth as each team got solid scoring chances, but the goaltenders could not be beaten. Šilovs got lucky, or had solid positioning, depending on who you ask, on a wrister from Capobianco. Šilovs didn’t react at all, and probably did not even see it, but the puck hit his glove anyway. Hellberg got away with one this period as well when Danila Klimovich hit the post while staring at a wide-open net after collecting a rebound.
The Stars' luck would run out however, as they couldn’t hold the lead through the onslaught that the Canucks brought in the beginning of the final frame. After a neutral zone tripping penalty from Chase Wheatcroft, Arshdeep Blains was able to rifle a wrister past Hellberg off the rush to tie the game at 1-1.
Alex Petrovic, one of the Stars’ best penalty killers, was not available during the crucial segment. He was in the box for a fighting and roughing penalty he received during the same scrum that McKenzie fought in at the end of the second period. Petrovic could’ve made a big difference had he been available.
Abbotsford pushed hard for the go-ahead goal for the next few minutes, but once again Hellberg stood tall. His best came after Nathan Smith deked him out of the play almost entirely, in a desperate last-ditch effort, Hellberg stuck out his left pad and somehow found the puck to keep the game tied.
The Stars began matching the Canucks intensity as the period continued, and after a dangerous looking power play from Texas that couldn’t connect, the game went to overtime once again.
Just over two minutes into the overtime period, Becker collected the puck in the offensive zone thanks to a weird hop off the stanchion. He took it behind the net and shoveled a pass in front to McKenzie. The captain wasted no time chipping the puck over the pad of Šilovs and into the net, giving the Stars the 2-1 overtime victory.
Texas still faces an uphill battle, as they will need two straight wins in Abbotsford. They lost both of the first two games north of the border. “Like I said after the loss [on Wednesday], let's reset, refocus, and retool,” coach Graham stated when asked about the Stars’ mentality as they head to Abbotsford. “Let's manage our body first and foremost, and then we'll get back to the mental side here on game day.”
The victory shrinks the series deficit down to 3-2, but Texas will need to win both games in Abbotsford to advance to the Calder Cup Final. Game Six, another elimination game, will take place on Friday at 8 pm Central Time at the Abbotsford Centre.
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