Connor McDavid has something new in common with former NY Islanders F Josh Bailey

The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars opened the Western Conference Finals with an instant classic that ended in a similar way to a New York Islanders playoff game in 2021.

Trailing 2-1 late in the third period, Dallas forward Tyler Seguin scored his second goal of the night to send Game 1 into overtime at American Airlines Arena. Toward the end of the first overtime, the best player in the world, Connor McDavid, had a chance to win the game but for some reason, froze in front of an open net, allowing Stars' goaltender Jake Oettinger and defenseman Chris Tanev enough to each deflect the shot with their sticks.

That looked as if it would be the signature moment of Game 1, but 32 seconds into double OT, McDavid redeemed himself and, in doing so, became the first player since Josh Bailey to win a Stanley Cup playoff game in the first minute of double OT. According to ace statistician Eric Hornick, McDavid's goal marked the ninth time in Stanley Cup history that a goal was scored in the first minute of the second overtime.

The last time it happened was in Game 5 of the Islanders opening-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021. 51 seconds into double OT, Bailey took advantage of a misplay by Pens goaltender Tristan Jarry, intercepting his pass up the middle, darting down the slot, and making a move or two before flipping the puck into the open net and sending the series back to the Nassau Coliseum with a chance to close out the series in six games.

“At first, I was just trying to settle (the puck) down and wanted to get a good shot off,” Bailey said. “Ultimately, I ran out of time and tried to let one go and happy to see it go in.”

The Islanders went on to win Game 6 and advance to the second round of the playoffs against the Boston Bruins on their way to their second consecutive appearance in the Conference Finals/Semi-Finals versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.