Howden scores early in OT as Golden Knights top Stars in Game 1 - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Brett Howden's game-winning goal less than two minutes into overtime gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 win Friday night against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

The sequence that led to the Golden Knights taking a 1-0 series lead was just as quick as overtime itself.

Chandler Stephenson carried possession into the Stars' zone before playing a centering pass to Mark Stone. He then fed an instant backhanded pass to Howden, who was left alone at the net front. Howden's initial shot went wide but he recovered the rebound off the boards and fired a shot beneath the goal line that he banked off Oettinger for the win.

«I just tried throwing it in there and got lucky that it went in,» Howden said. «I think Oettinger put it in himself. I was just trying to throw it in there and see what would happen.»

Howden's goal is the latest in a narrative that has come to define the Golden Knights during these playoffs: They're a team that can get goals from their entire lineup. The Golden Knights have had 14 different players score goals these playoffs, equaling the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers (the Stars lead the way with 15).

Stars winger Jason Robertson, who did not score in the second round against the Seattle Kraken, staked his team to a 1-0 lead with less than 90 seconds remaining in the first period from a deflection off a shot from Roope Hintz.

Golden Knights center William Karlsson tied it at 1 in the second period before giving the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead just 1:19 in the third period. Both of Karlsson's goals were a byproduct of his constant movement. Karlsson carried the puck into the Stars zone and played a pass to Zach Whitecloud. Karlsson kept skating and was able to get