Stars lose captain, pull Oettinger early in Game 3 of West final

© Provided by The Associated Press Vegas Golden Knights right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) scores against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals, Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled after giving up three goals on five shots less than 7 1/2 minutes into Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, after their captain had already gotten a game misconduct.

© Provided by The Associated Press Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn, right, is escorted by officials as Vegas Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel (9) and Stars’ Ryan Suter (20) watch during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Dallas. Benn was issued a cross-checking penalty and a game misconduct. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jamie Benn got a five-minute major for a cross-check on Vegas captain Mark Stone less than two minutes into the game, with the Stars already down 1-0. After the two collided and Stone fell to the ice, Benn lunged forward with both hands on his stick and made contact near Stone’s neck.

© Provided by The Associated Press Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) covers up the puck beside Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during the second period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Stars center Max Domi got a game misconduct with 21 seconds left in the second period. After his cross-check against Nicolas Hague, Domi started throwing punches.

Fans in the arena reacted to the ensuing penalty by throwing water bottles, food and other items on the ice. With extended time needed to clean up the playing surface, officials sent both teams to their locker rooms early for the second intermission with the Knights up 4-0.

During the power play after Benn’s penalty, Ivan Barbashev got his first goal in eight games for the Golden Knights to put them up 2-0. Vegas’ first goal came only 71 seconds into the game when Jonathan Marchessault scored on a wrister from the circle to Oettinger’s right.

Oettinger was pulled and replaced by Scott Wedgewood after William Carrier’s backhander that made it 3-0 with 12:50 left in the first period.

© Provided by The Associated Press Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) scores on Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

With the Stars already trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, they needed Oettinger to have another solid performance, like he has so many other times following losses. Instead, he had the shortest start of his NHL career.

Wedgewood also replaced Oettinger about 4 1/2 minutes into the second period Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against Seattle after the 24-year-old starter allowed four goals on 18 shots in what became a 6-3 loss. That was his previous shortest start, but Oettinger then had 22 saves in Game 7 against the Kraken and allowed his only goal in the closing seconds of a 2-1 win.

Oettinger entered Game 3 with a 36-11-6 career record in his 56 games following a loss. He had been 5-1 after losses in these playoffs, but was coming off consecutive overtime losses in Las Vegas to start this series.

© Provided by The Associated Press Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) scores on Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

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