On the back end of back-to-back games, the Dallas Stars started Anton Khudobin in goal for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday night, facing elimination against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The result was much different from Game 4.
Khudobin, showing little signs of fatigue, stopped 39 of 41 shots as the Stars outlasted the Lightning 3-2 in double overtime to force Game 6 on Monday night in Edmonton, Alberta. Tampa Bay leads the series 3-2.
Khudobin has now played in 24 games for the Stars this postseason. That includes their Game 4 loss on Friday night, 5-4 in overtime to the Lightning, in which Khudobin faced 35 shots.
Dallas coach Rick Bowness had kept his goaltending plans for Game 5 under wraps, leading to speculation that the Stars might not start Khudobin in back-to-back games. But regular-season starter Ben Bishop remained "unfit to play," according to the coach.
The last time Bishop appeared for Dallas was Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against Colorado in the second game of a back-to-back. He was pulled in the first period after giving up four goals, and Khudobin finished the game.
Rookie Jake Oettinger remains Khudobin's backup with Bishop unavailable. He wasn't needed Saturday.
The Stars' goaltending and defense had been crumbling against the Lightning before Game 5. They won Game 1 4-1 but allowed 22 shots on goal in the third period of that game. Since then -- and leading up to Game 5 -- the Lightning had won three games in a row, Khudobin had an .863 save percentage in that span and Tampa Bay's power play had converted six of its past 12 opportunities.
The Stars are shooting for their first Stanley Cup title since 1999, when they outlasted the Buffalo Sabres. In 2000, they lost in the final round to the New Jersey Devils.