The Stars earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
Jake Oettinger stopped 1.1 goals above expectation, the margin that separated a close game from a blowout. Dallas defeated San Jose 4–1, but the gap between expected goals (61–39) and the final score tells the real story: Oettinger's performance amplified a good game into a dominant one.
The Stars controlled through superior shot quality. They averaged 0.066 expected goals per shot attempt compared to San Jose's 0.050 — efficient, dangerous offense versus volume shooting. On expected goals, Dallas led 3.18–2.06.
High-danger chances went 6–2 to Dallas, reflecting their net-front presence. The Stars crashed effectively for rebounds, converting 2 of 3 opportunities; San Jose converted 1 of 3. Dallas also held 58% of shot attempts (24–17), controlling tempo.
Yaroslav Askarov made 20 saves on 23 shots (0.870 SV%), outmatched by the volume and danger Dallas created. Miro Heiskanen's wrist shot from a sharp angle (17:41, third period) stands as the turning point — the moment Dallas's dominance crystallized into a decisive result.
