Radek Faksa Delivers On Promise To His Son, Scores Game-Winning Goal In Game 7 For Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars were deadlocked in a 1-1 tie in Game 7 with the Vegas Golden Knights heading into the third period on Sunday evening. 

The seasons of two teams hung precariously in the balance, each needing a hero to keep it alive.

For Dallas, their lifeline didn’t come from their top dogs, like Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski, or Roope Hintz. The Stars’ season was saved by a rather unexpected member of its roster: fourth-line left-winger Radek Faksa.

Radek Faksa (see here in action in April) was a hero to the Stars and his son on Sunday night. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

The 30-year-old from the Czech Republic had missed the previous four games due to an injury, but saved the most important contribution of the series - and the best goal of his career - for Game 7.

Just 44 seconds into the final frame, Faksa and his line mates got the cycle going in the Vegas zone, and he lifted a backhand shot past Adin Hill to send the American Airlines Center into a frenzy.

That would end up being the game winner, and Dallas eliminated the defending Stanley Cup champions with a 2-1 victory. The Colorado Avalanche await them in the second round.

But Faksa’s goal wasn’t just significant for the Stars. While simultaneously clinching a series win for his team, he delivered on a promise to his 2 ½ year-old son, Elliot.

Before the game, father and son were skating on the ice playing some hockey, when the younger Faksa made his dad promise him he’d score a goal. While Elliot wasn’t there to see it (he had to be taken home to go to bed before the third period started), his dad made sure he delivered on his word.

"I’m happy I did," Faksa said. "And so I can show him the video in the morning, and we can watch it together."

I’m sure the little man loved watching that video this morning. Talk about a great start to a Monday.

If that moment doesn’t pull on your heart strings or make you start to tear up, your heart is colder than the ice these guys skated on. Or, it just means your Vegas fan, in which case you’d be free from criticism.

In just one shot, the left-winger became the dad of the year and the MVP of the series for the Stars.

What a night for Faksa, and what a memory for Elliot.