Dallas is not only dominating on the stat sheet, but have shown poise when their backs are against the wall. That could come in handy Friday in Game 6.
Prior to the beginning of the First Round Playoff series with the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer was asked how his players would manage their emotions as they transition from the grind of an 82-game regular season to the high intensity of the postseason.
"I'm always writing on my card (the word) composure," DeBoer said. "In the playoffs, the players go from here to here emotionally, their investment, everything. They want it so bad that a lot of times, your job is to keep the composure of the group when emotions are at the highest. For sure, it's a little bit of a switch there from the dog days of the regular season."
That composure was put to the test after the Stars fell behind 2-0 in the series, losing home ice advantage and having to come back on the road. But just as they've done all season, the team dug in, rolled up its sleeves and have now put themselves in a position to end Vegas's chance to defend their Stanley Cup title in Game 6 Friday night.
Forward Wyatt Johnston, who has three goals and three assists in the series, used a different word after the 3-2 victory in Game 5.
"Resilience," he said when asked why his team didn't panic after the first two games. "Obviously, being down 2-0, that's not the spot you want to be in going into Vegas. Obviously, we've still got a lot of work to do. Getting the job done will be the toughest, but I think it's been great how we've been able to battle back."
Vegas hasn't exactly rolled over and died the past three games. The Stars had to go into overtime to win Game 3, staved off a desperate offensive push in the third period of Game 4, and refused to be bullied when the Golden Knights flexed their big-boy hockey muscles in Game 5.
Speaking of big boy hockey... After Vegas took Game 1, the Stars tried a more physical approach in Game 2, with the two teams combining for a total of 108 hits. It proved costly for Dallas not only on the scoreboard, but personnel-wise. Mason Marchment and Radek Faksa both left in the third period with injuries and have missed the last three games.
The Golden Knights tried the same tactic in Game 5, out-hitting Dallas 47-34. Things got chippy in the second period when Tyler Seguin was called for a check to the head on Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore, and a skirmish ensued.
Later in the period, Golden Knights forward Alex Pietrangelo elbowed Seguin in the face. After initially being ruled a five-minute major, the call was changed to a two-minute minor for roughing.
The Stars maintained their poise and got revenge when Robertson scored the game-winner on the power play and the defense locked it down in the third to send the series back to Vegas.
"I don't know," Seguin said when asked if he thought Pietrangelo's hit was intentional. "It's (playoff) hockey, I guess."
While each of the five games has been close on the scoreboard (no game has been separated by more than two goals), the Stars have dominated in numerous categories. They combined for 178 scoring chances to Vegas's 119, and they have 81 high danger opportunities compared to 43 by Vegas.
After surrendering four goals in Game 1, goalie Jake Oettinger has given Dallas the stellar goaltending that is so crucial in the playoffs. Oettinger is 3-1 over the last four games with a 1.89 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. He's been especially clutch in the third period and overtime, stopping all 56 shots sent his way in those periods.
Perhaps no save was bigger than the one he made on Chandler Stephenson in the third period of Game 5, making a phenomenal split save after Stephenson got loose on a breakaway.
"That was an unbelievable save," said Stars forward Jason Robertson, who recorded his first career game-winning goal to preserve the Game 5 victory. "You need those in the playoffs. He's been really solid the last few games for sure. He's getting better and better as the series is going."
Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy believes it's his team's turn to be resilient and keep the series alive in front of their home fans.
"We'll hang our hats on the fact we're the defending Stanley Cup champions, so there's a lot of resolve in that room," Cassidy said. "We've got to go home and win one game in the playoffs. That's something we're certainly capable of."
No one knows this better than the Stars, who were eventually eliminated from last year's Western Conference Finals by the Golden Knights after narrowing a 3-0 series deficit to 3-2.
Elimination games are often the toughest to win in a playoff series. But the Stars have proven they can get the job done on the road even in a tough Vegas environment, and are prepared for whatever the Golden Knights will throw at them.
"I think we've got a good game plan, I think the guys are hungry and confident and excited," DeBoer said Thursday just before the team flight to Vegas. "If it ends up in Game 7, we're glad it's back in Dallas."
Things to Watch for:
- DeBoer said Friday morning that forward Radek Faksa is an option to play in Game 6; Mason Marchment will not play.
- Robertson's Game 5 winning goal gave him three points (1-2-3) over his past three games and five points (3-2-5) in the series.
- Forward Evgenii Dadonov has points in three straight games, including a goal in each of the last two.
- Vegas forward Jack Eichel leads all skaters with seven points (3-4-7) over the previous five games, and is averaging a point per game in the series.
Puck drop for Game 6 is at 9 Pm CT and can be viewed on Bally Sports Southwest and TNT.
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