Joe Pavelski scored twice, which proved to be the difference as the Dallas Stars defeated the Calgary Flames 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series at the American Airlines Center.

The forward has scored three of Dallas' four goals in this series as the Stars lead the series 2-1.

"Elite athletes man, they find a way to rise to the occasion", said Dallas head coach Rick Bowness. "Joe came up big, but again, it's always around the net.

"There's a timing to get there. There's a timing to anticipating the shot. You can't get there late, you can't get there early, there's a timing with that. Obviously he has it down pat."

Radek Faksa scored and Miro Heiskanen had two assists for the Stars. Jake Oettinger made 39 saves.

Trevor Lewis and Elias Lindholm scored for the Flames. Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves.

Story of the game

Faksa put the Stars ahead when he won a faceoff before skating to the front of the net and re-directing a shot from the point by Esa Lindell with the teams at four-on-four.

"I talked to the players this morning about after the whistles", said Calgary head coach Darryl Sutter. "You've got to go whistle to whistle, that's the bottom line. That's where the game's played, not after the whistle."

Lewis tied the game as he chipped the rebound over a sprawling Oettinger. Bowness challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the call was upheld after a video review.

Lindholm made it 2-1 in favor of the Flames with a one-timer from the edge of the right face-off circle. 

Shortly after Markstrom stacked his pads to make a save on Heiskanen, Pavelski scored on the rebound of another shot by Heiskanen to tie it 2-2 with 8:19 left in the second period.

He then scored the eventual game-winner getting to a rebound in front of the net.

"It's another step", he said. "There was a lot of effort out there tonight from up and down the lineup. Lots of physicality, guys hanging in, taking checks, making plays, giving checks.

"It was a competitive game. Our guys are competitive, and I like that."

Oettinger kept the Stars in front when he made a right pad save on a breakaway attempt by Johnny Gaudreau at 16:27 of the third.

"I was just trying to get out there and take away some ice", he said. "I felt like he didn't have time to make a move, so I thought he was going to shoot. Thankfully I made the save."

Roope Hintz shot into an empty net with one second left for the 4-2 final.

"Our group still feels really good, really confident in our ability", Flames forward Blake Coleman said. "We win one game, we have home-ice back, and that's the goal coming in here.

"There's no panic in our room. We have a lot of guys who have been here in these situations. Like I said, it's seven games for a reason."