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The Dallas Stars came into Los Angeles tonight knowing this was a swing game, and they played like it. An 8–4 win on the road gives them a 3–2 lead in the series, and now they’ll have a chance to close things out back home in Dallas.
The story really was Manny Martinez. Complete game, five hits allowed, three homers given up but none of them with men on base until late. He stayed composed, worked quickly, and gave his offense a chance to break things open. That’s exactly what you want from your starter in the postseason.
And the Dallas bats showed up. Sung-ho Park’s two-run homer in the fourth set the tone, and then Montez followed with another big swing that pushed the lead out of reach. Fourteen hits total, balanced lineup production, and they just wore down Los Angeles pitching.
The Kings had their moments with a couple of solo shots and a two-run homer in the ninth, but the damage was already done. At this point in a best-of-seven, you’ve got to protect home ice—well, in this case, home field—and L.A. just didn’t do it.
So Dallas heads back home up 3–2. That’s a veteran-type performance from them tonight, taking advantage of mistakes and executing in key spots. The Kings are going to need to find some answers in a hurry, or this series is going to end on Saturday.
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