The Dallas Stars completed their series comeback Sunday, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 2–1 in Game 7 at American Airlines Center to claim their first-round playoff series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
Stars center Radek Faksa, who missed the previous four games with an undisclosed injury, broke a 1–1 tie in the opening minute of the third period. He sent a backhander from the circle past Vegas goaltender Adin Hill for what ended up being the series-clinching goal.
For Faksa, that goal meant two things: The Stars were advancing, and he made good on a promise to his 2-year-old son Elliot.
“After every pregame skate, I play [mini-stick hockey] with my son, and I promised him I would score a goal tonight,” Faksa said on the TNT postgame show. “I’m glad I did.
“I’m so excited to show him video of the goal in the morning.”
It marked Faksa’s ninth career playoff goal and his first in the series.
“It was a huge relief, you know,” Faksa said. “It was the biggest goal of my career.”
Faksa and the Stars will face the Colorado Avalanche in the next round, a team that defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games to cruise through the first round.
