If the Stars hope to avoid going down 0-2in the Western Conference Final, there are three keys to sending the series to Edmonton tied at a game apiece.
Despite having five days of rest between their second-round series and the start of the Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars looked like a team trying to find their rhythm Thursday in Game 1. The Edmonton Oilers had less than three days between series, but played with what Stars head coach Pete DeBoer called a "game 7 mentality" through the first two periods before edging Dallas 3-2 in double overtime.
Even Tyler Seguin, who accounted for both of the Stars' goals, acknowledged the layoff may have played a part in the team starting slowly before rallying late in the third period to tie the game.
"I thought we played a good hockey game," Seguin said after Game 1. "If it was my choice, we would have started two days earlier. It was nice to get a break, but I think it got a little long, and (the Oilers were) a team coming off a Game 7."
Playing almost well enough to win has been the trend for the Stars in the opener of a playoff series in recent years. They have now dropped seven consecutive game 1's, with the last victory coming in the 2020 Edmonton playoff bubble. The last time Dallas has taken a Game 1 on home ice was in 2016.
It's not as if they've been outclassed. All seven of those Game 1 losses have been decided by one goal, with four needing at least one overtime. One mistake or missed opportunity could have made the difference in changing the outcome of most of them.
But now isn't the time to look back. If Dallas hopes to avoid going down 0-2, here are three keys to sending the series to Edmonton tied at a game apiece.
Capitalizing On Scoring Depth
According to DeBoer, the biggest reason Dallas lost in last year's Western Conference finals to the Vegas Golden Knights was a lack of depth in the forward lines.
General manager Jim Nill addressed that durint the off-season by signing Matt Duchene, Sam Steel and Craig Smith as free agents. Logan Stankoven was brought up from the AHL to add even more depth among the four lines.
The strategy paid off during the regular season, with eight players scoring at least 20 goals. The Stars went 2-0-1 in three regular-season meetings with Edmonton, with 15 different skaters registering at least a point through those three games.
But in Game 1 of the WCF on Thursday, three different Oilers found the score sheet, while Seguin was the only scorer for the Stars.
DeBoer isn't about to panic after one game.
"I didn't think we were great, I didn't think we were poor," DeBoer said following the loss. "We're Game 1 in this series. I'm not gonna start calling guys out. It's way too early for that."
The Stars have seen 16 different skaters score in these playoffs, more than any of the other three teams left. It's how they overcame the Golden Knights' and Colorado's big guns in the first two rounds. They were unable to keep top scorers Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman off the scoreboard in Game 1, something that must change moving forward. Dallas has yet to win a game this post-season when only one player scores.
Minimize Defensive Breakdowns
It's nearly impossible to not make a mistake through four-plus periods of hockey, but Dallas had one too many defensive lapses in Game 1.
The Oilers' first two goals came on the Stars' failure to clear the defensive zone. Draisaitl struck first 58 seconds into the second period when the puck landed on his stick after a blocked shot from Dallas defenseman Esa Lindell. Just four minutes later, Chris Tanev tried unsuccessfully to break up a McDavid pass to Hyman, who stayed with the play and increased Edmonton's lead to 2-0.
Only goalie Jake Oettinger's game-saving stop on a McDavid open-net shot prevented the Oilers from taking the game earlier in overtime.
McDavid's goal 32 seconds into double overtime came after he was left wide open, tipping in an Evan Bouchard shot to secure Edmonton's victory.
Stankoven, who was on the ice when the game-winner was scored, admitted after the game there was a breakdown in coverage.
"You can't leave the best player in the world open like that," Stankoven said. "That's on us and on me and i think that play, I just saw them coming in on the forecheck and I was trying to get back to support the defense. Obviously, the game happens really fast. (I'm) gonna have to watch some video and make sure that doesn't happen again."
Better Execution On the Power Play
Through 14 games this post-season, Dallas is fifth on the power play (9-of-36, 25%). The Oilers' penalty-kill is an astounding 92.5% (3-of-40), first in the NHL.
The Stars were unable to score on any of their five power-play chances, including a McDavid double minor in overtime.
Dallas managed just four shots on their first three power-play opportunities, thanks to Edmonton's ability to keep them from getting through the neutral zone. They did look better during the four-minute double minor, and Jason Robertson had a golden opportunity to score but hit the post.
"I think we can adjust, I expect us to adjust," DeBoer said. "When the mindset in rest of our game gets in the right place, that'll I think fix our power play."
Injury Update
Forward Roope Hintz, who suffered an upper-body injury in the second-round series against Colorado, was on the ice during Saturday's morning skate. He also skated during Friday's optional practice and will be a game-time decision, according to DeBoer.
Puck drop for game 2 is set for 7 Pm CT and can be viewed on TNT.