Robertson driving force for Stars in Game 4 OT win

DALLAS-- Jason Robertson went through the reasons why he was able to get so many shots, so many great scoring opportunities and capitalize on a few of them.

"I think we were playing a lot faster, a lot quicker, more predictable, cleaner breakouts," the Dallas Stars forward said after a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final at American Airlines Center on Thursday. "Supporting the puck, holding onto pucks more in the offensive zone, getting some rotations, causing some scrambles and giving me a lot of opportunities."

OK, sure, but the 23-year-old definitely needed to take more individual credit for his performance, which included scoring the Stars' two goals in regulation, because he was a force.

Robertson had 11 shots on goal, easily the most of any player in Game 4; Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel was next with seven.

Joe Pavelski, who plays on the top line with Robertson, had the winner on the power play 3:18 into overtime.

The Golden Knights lead the best-of-7 series, 3-1. Game 5 is at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

RELATED: [Complete Golden Knights vs. Stars series coverage]

Asked how Robertson was able to create and shoot so much, Stars coach Peter DeBoer said, "if I knew that, we would practice it and teach it and bottle it up. He's a special athlete. That's a special skill to be a scorer. But when he's feeling it, like I said, he looks like a totally different player, and that's what he's feeling right now."

After scoring two goals through the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Robertson has four goals in as many games against the Golden Knights. In his 19:25 of ice time Thursday, he also had two hits and two blocked shots.

"He scores, he makes plays, blocked a couple of shots too," linemate Roope Hintz said. "That's huge for the team. You see him blocking shots too. We're all in."

The Stars were definitely all in Thursday because, trailing 3-0 in the series, they didn't have much choice. They played arguably their best game this postseason, winning in overtime after losing their first four, including Games 1 and 2 of this series.

Granted, there was concern when the Golden Knights took the early 1-0 lead courtesy of forward William Karlsson 4:17 into the game. But Oettinger kept his cool, making 37 saves.

The rest of the Stars followed suit.

"We had a great mindset tonight, we had great energy, great focus," DeBoer said. "We don't feel like we should've been down 3-0. Self-inflicted Game 3. Game 2 we had that game in our control and found a way to lose it. So, we wanted to make sure we took care of business, and we did and now you've got to go do it again."

After that, it was the Robertson show. His first goal was when he tipped a shot from defenseman Miro Heiskanen, then batted the puck out of mid-air twice to tie the game 1-1 at 15:42 of the first period on the power play. His second, moments after he hit the post, was when he got the puck off the back wall and knocked it past Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill's glove side to make it 2-2 at 17:21 of the second period.

"Just taking the game over, so confident," Oettinger said of Robertson. "When he's at his best, he's just not thinking and shooting first and making everyone around him better. He was the best player on our team, by far. We're going to need him to keep doing that."

Dallas knew it needed everyone to make up for the absence of captain Jamie Benn, who was suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for a cross-check on Vegas forward Mark Stone in Game 3 on Tuesday. Robertson did that and then some, helping the Stars live to see another game.

"Some guys need to step up in Jamie Benn's absence, we're looking for goals and that's kind of my responsibility I put on myself," he said. "I know these playoffs have been tough, but I know I said it before, I play on too good of a line, with too good of players to not create chances and opportunities, create bounces.

"I was able to get the bounces that we needed tonight. Just have to keep working with it, working for it. They were eventually going to come and when you get that opportunity you have to finish it. Got to do it again on Saturday."