With control of the Western Conference Semifinals at stake as the scene shifts back to the American Airlines Center for Game 5, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars take on Ken Hitchcock's Dallas Stars on Saturday afternoon. Game time is noon CDT. The game will be televised on NBC.
Cody Eakin's overtime goal on Thursday night knotted the series at two games apiece and set up a best-of-three scenario in which the Stars will have the home ice in Games 5 and 7 (if necessary). Each time holds an OT win in the other's home arena in this series.
In Thursday's 3-2 overtime decision, Dallas trailed early on a Vladimir Tarasenko goal midway through the first period before striking back for closely spaced Radek Faksa and Patrick Sharp (power play) goals early in the second period. St. Louis re-tied the game at 2-2 on a Paul Stastny power play tally with 6:54 left in the second period. The score held there until Eakin's OT goal at 2:58 of the extra frame.
Kari Lehtonen stopped 24 of 26 shots to earn the win in goal. Brian Elliott stopped 25 of 28.
Top-line center Tyler Seguin (Achilles tendon injury) has been skating in Frisco but is not ready to return to the Dallas lineup. The news is better on Patrick Eaves (leg), who practiced with the team on Friday and will be a gameday decision on Saturday.
Hitchcock told the media on Friday that he might make some lineup changes for Saturday's game but declined to elaborate. He has a full roster at his disposal with no reported injuries.