Knights blank Stars, even series

EDMONTON, Alberta — Paul Stastny scored to end a lengthy goal drought by Golden Knights forwards, Robin Lehner stopped all 24shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the playoffs and the top-seeded Knights rediscovered their winning ways and beat the third-seeded Stars 3-0 Tuesday in Game 2 of the Western Conference final, evening the series.

Stastny’s second-period goal was the first by a Knights forward with an opposing goalie in net in 276:24, dating to Game 4 against the Canucks in the last round. William Karlsson and Tomas Nosek made it three in less than 10 minutes against Anton Khudobin, and the Knights had another goal disallowed for goaltender interference.

“We play more as a team, support each other,” Nosek said. “Finally, we score some goals, too. It’s been a while.”

After getting flustered by hot Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko and failing to crack Khudobin in a hard-hitting Game 1 that was played at the Stars’ pace, the Knights finally looked like the team that earned the top seed in the West and steamrolled through the first round and halfway through the Canucks series.

The return of enforcer Ryan Reaves was just one element of that. With Reaves suspended a game for an illegal check to the head, coach Peter DeBoer didn’t start his physical fourth line as he had in 34 consecutive games since the All-Star break in January.

William Carrier, Nosek and Reaves started and came out hitting. Reaves hit Stars captain Jamie Benn twice in the first 30 seconds, and the Knights dictated the physicality the way the Stars did two nights earlier.

After no goals in the first period, Stastny scored on a redirection in front from Max Pacioretty. With agitating Stars winger in the penalty box minutes later, Karlsson scored on the power play with Mark Stone sliding in front to screen Khudobin.

Each goal was a reminder of how to score in the playoffs.