The Dallas Stars are heading back to the Western Conference Final — and they got there with a moment of magic from an unlikely hero. Defenseman Thomas Harley buried a power-play goal from the top of the slot just 1:33 into overtime, lifting the Stars to a dramatic 2-1 win over the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets in Game 6 on Saturday night. The win gave Dallas a 4-2 series victory, clinching their spot in the West Final for the second straight year.
The game-winning goal came on the heels of a heartbreaking twist for Jets forward Mark Scheifele, who had tied the game earlier but took a costly tripping penalty with 14.8 seconds left in regulation. Scheifele, playing just hours after the unexpected death of his father, was trying to stop a breakaway by Sam Steel when he lunged and tripped him at the blue line — a desperate play that some thought warranted a penalty shot. Instead, it gave Dallas a power play entering overtime.
After calling a timeout and narrowly missing a go-ahead goal in the final seconds of regulation, the Stars capitalized early in the extra frame. Tyler Seguin, stationed near the left boards, slid a pinpoint pass into Harley’s wheelhouse. The 22-year-old defenseman, who had not scored in the series, stepped into the shot and beat Connor Hellebuyck cleanly for the winner — his first career playoff OT goal.
The Stars, who have now won all three overtime games this postseason, advance to face the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Dallas. It will be a rematch of last year’s thrilling series, which Edmonton won in six games.
Scheifele scored the Jets’ lone goal — his fifth of the playoffs — early in the second period, finishing a rebound from a Kyle Connor shot just outside the crease. The sequence came moments before a whistle for a delayed penalty on Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger, who had high-sticked Gabriel Vilardi in the face.
It was a moment of strength and perseverance for Scheifele, who was playing under the emotional weight of his father’s sudden passing earlier in the day.
But fate dealt him a cruel hand in the final seconds. His penalty gave the Stars a man advantage they wouldn’t waste.
Jake Oettinger was brilliant once more for Dallas, making 22 saves, none bigger than a lunging effort with 8:30 left in regulation. As Mason Appleton fired on a near-empty net, Oettinger, off-balance and leaning right, whipped back to his left post and snagged the puck in mid-air — a season-saving stop that kept the game tied.
The 25-year-old now has six playoff series wins over the last three seasons and continues to build a reputation as one of the league’s elite postseason performers.
Sam Steel opened the scoring midway through the second, netting his first goal of the playoffs on a long rebound from the right circle. His rising shot snuck over Hellebuyck’s glove and into the top corner.
Hellebuyck, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and this season’s favorite to win again, was steady in net, turning away 18 shots. He endured a chaotic 46-second flurry late in the first period, facing eight Stars attempts, three of which were on goal.
The Stars, who had gone to Game 7 in three straight postseasons, avoided the same fate this time, eliminating a gritty and emotional Jets squad that had pulled off a miraculous rally against St. Louis in Round 1.
They’ll now prepare for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, who wrapped their second-round series with a 1-0 overtime win over Vegas in Game 5.
With stars like Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and Miro Heiskanen, and the steady presence of Oettinger in goal, Dallas looks poised for another deep run — and possibly a return to the Stanley Cup Final.
But for now, it was Harley’s moment — and a shot that sent the Stars soaring.
