At the beginning of the season, both Lian Bichsel and Alexander Petrovic were playing for the AHL's Texas Stars, but come playoff time, the duo has become a steady third defensive pairing for the Dallas Stars in their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

Bichsel became a regular halfway through the season, initially getting a chance due to injuries but later cementing his place in the lineup based on other defensemen's struggles. He paired with Matt Dumba for most of that time, and it seemed pretty set in stone that the duo would start the playoffs together.

But a seven game slide at the end of the season changed the coaching staff's mind, and Dumba ended up on the shelf for the first five games of the series against Colorado. In stepped Petrovic, who also stepped in for Nils Lundkvist in the midst of the second round series against the Avs last season.

Petrovic only played a few games at the NHL level during the regular season, and it was a question mark about how well he would be able to step in straight to playoff mode, especially next to a rookie.

The two have been more than serviceable so far in the series, and both seem to be getting more and more comfortable the further the series continues. Head coach Pete DeBoer isn't playing them nearly as much as the other two defense pairings, but both are making a contribution when on the ice.

It seems like Bichsel is made for playoff hockey, throwing heavy checks on almost every shift, pushing and shoving after almost every whistle and playing the villain but knowing exactly when to pull up and skate to the bench before taking a penalty.

Those things are making him a fan favorite, and that came to a head late in Game 5, when he ruffled some feathers and was sent to the penalty box when the game was well in hand. The jumbotron showed him sitting in the penalty box, and Bichsel played along to the crowd, asking them to increase the noise, all with a grin on his face.

He knows his role and his importance in giving Dallas a physical presence that they were lacking last season.

And Petrovic is noticeably able to make crisp passes, facilitate the puck and is not afraid to fire shots towards the net. One of those floaters was tipped in for a goal by Mason Marchment to make the score 5-2 on Monday night. He seems to be settling in and showing more comfort and confidence than even last season, where he was relied upon to be the sixth defenseman for the last eight games of the playoff run.

Even though both started the year in the minors, they are as critical to the Stars playoff run as anyone.

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