Pavelski's OT goal keeps Stars from being swept by Golden Knights - ESPN

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars avoided a Western Conference Final sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-2 Game 4 victory on Thursday, thanks to forward Joe Pavelski's power-play goal 3:18 into overtime.

Now comes the hard part: trying to become the first team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win the round before the Stanley Cup Final. Teams leading the conference final or semifinal 3-0 have a 47-0 series record, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

In the process, the Stars would become the fifth team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 hole and win a playoff series. Teams holding that lead in the Stanley Cup playoffs have a series record of 201-4.

Pavelski knows better than anyone that it can be done. Because he was on the other side for one of those four rallies.

In 2014, the San Jose Sharks won the first three games against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Pavelski watched as the eventual Stanley Cup champions won four straight to take the series.

«They're not fun when you're on the other side of it. But you then understand that it can happen,» he said.

Game 5 of the Western Conference Final is Saturday night back in Las Vegas, where the Stars dropped the first two games of the series in overtime.

«It's such a fine line this time of year. You're going good and then all of a sudden you're in a 3-0 hole. So we'll see where this goes. We'll get some rest and we'll look to do it again. Keep trying to put a little doubt in their minds,» Pavelski said.

Dallas scored twice on the power play in Game 4, both times with Brayden McNabb in the penalty box for high sticking. In overtime, McNabb's stick connected with Stars forward Ty Dellandrea's face. While no penalty was initially signaled, the