Dallas Stars display mettle, even series against St. Louis

The Dallas Stars showed their characteristic playoff resilience in winning Game 2 versus St. Louis. Home ice is theirs as they head home for Games 3 & 4.

It’s easy to get caught up in the moment during a playoff hockey run. The aftermath of Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals was one of those moments. The Dallas Stars came out and dictated the pace in the early stages of that tilt only to give up a goal on the Blues’ first shot of the game. From that point, the Stars’ fate was pretty much sealed, despite a third period surge in which Dallas dominated play, but could not overcome the 3-2 final score.

While the Stars didn’t get run off the rink that night, there were stretches where the Blues looked fresher, stronger on the puck, and quicker up the ice. This was acutely apparent when right winger Vladimir Tarasenko undressed Stars’ rookie phenom Miro Heiskanen for his second goal of the night. It’s probably safe to say a sense of impending doom pervaded the fan base in the wake of the loss.

But this year’s Dallas Stars’ team has found a will in the playoffs that wasn’t always evident during the regular season. What’s clear is that these guys can bounce back from losses quickly. Saturday’s Game 2 was case in point. In jeopardy of going down two games to the hottest team in the league, the Stars came out and dictated play from the opening face-off and stormed off to a first intermission 3-1 lead.

Dallas would eventually grind the game into a 4-2 series-tying win. And when the final story of the 2018-19 Stars is told, we may well look back on that game as something of a watershed moment. It’s not just that they won, but how they did it. Names like Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, and Jamie Benn did not dominate the score sheet. No, Game 2 was about the newer guard. It was about a second wave of electrifying young talent that’s growing up in front of everyone right now.

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The Stars were already up 1-0 on the strength of Roope Hintz’s third goal of the playoffs. But the turning point in this game occurred during a two-minute span of four-on-four hockey. Mats Zuccarello backhanded a nifty outlet pass to Hintz as he and Miro Heiskanen stormed the offensive zone. Hintz then put a dazzling touch pass through the legs of a Blues defender and right onto Heiskanen’s tape for an easy goal and a 2-0 lead. In fact, words really can’t do it justice. Just take a look at the replay. It was arguably the prettiest goal of the entire playoffs thus far, and it painted a gorgeous portrait of the Stars’ emerging scoring depth. This team doesn’t have to rely on one line anymore.

For an organization that has longed for quality scoring depth, this development could not have come at a better time. While it’s far too early to compare this team to the 1999 Cup-winning squad, there are some similarities: two top-notch scoring lines, a relentless checking line, and elite goaltending. Game after game, these guys are showing that they belong here. Throw in a commitment to team defense, and the ingredients are in place for success in this round and beyond.

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Of course, the St Louis Blues will do everything in their power to ruin the party. This home ice advantage Dallas currently enjoys could go away as soon as tonight. But for this morning and today, let yourself dream a little. If the Stars win their remaining home games, they will advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in over a decade. Make room on the bandwagon. It’s sure to keep growing.

Published on 04/29/2019 at 12:09 PM
Last updated at 04/29/2019 at 12:09 PM

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