Dallas Stars: Physicality Becoming Key In Series Against Predators

Through two playoff games, the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators have both experienced excitement, thrills, and plenty of momentum swings. But there’s also been an increased need for physicality that will likely become all the more prevalent as the series continues playing out.

It wasn’t a dirty hit by the NHL’s standards. If anything, it was a well-timed collision that produced a bone-rattling effect for Dallas Stars forward Jason Dickinson. Regardless of how you look at it, though, one thing is clear: it’s probably one of the biggest hits you’ll end up seeing in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

But when Nashville Predators forward Brian Boyle dug his shoulder into Dickinson’s chest with 10:42 left in the first period, it served as more than just a “welcome to the playoffs” for the young Stars forward.

It was more than just a physical effort on the Nashville power play that forced a turnover. It did more than just remove Dickinson from the game and force the Stars to play with 11 forwards until midway through the second period. It also became more than just a powder keg play that sparked the two opposing fanbases to life.

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Instead, the hit helped set the tone for what should be a long and grueling series between two Central division rivals. And while it didn’t have any long-term effects on either player, the hit still rings in as one of the highlights of the series so far through the first two games.

That’s because it set a precedent.

When the puck first dropped in game one on Wednesday night, the Predators came out swinging. They were the faster, more aggressive team and used both experience and home ice advantage to take control in the early part of the contest.

But then the hit happened. It was a seismic blow that further pushed the Stars into what seemed like a compromised spot in their first postseason contest in three years. They were already shorthanded on the ice, were being outdone physically and mentally, and were relying much too heavily on their goaltender to keep them in the game. We now know, however, that the Stars found their way out of that spot and clinched a narrow 3-2 win to take an early lead in the series.

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It didn’t come without some physicality, though. Following the hit on Dickinson, the Dallas Stars began to fight back on the physical front. Jamie Benn laid a few heavy hits and finished his checks. Alexander Radulov began throwing his weight around a little more. The Stars also started to get involved in scrums after the whistle and began agitating a Predators team that saw its 1-0 lead transform into a 3-1 deficit.

The Stars stood tall in a critical game and didn’t crumble under the early pressure. They successfully countered a bigger and more aggressive Nashville team, and did found a way to secure a big road win as a result.

Then came game two. After two days of rest, the Stars and Predators hopped back on the ice for one last time at Bridgestone Arena before the series transitioned to Dallas. And if the results of game one foretold anything about the second contest, it was that it would be all the more intense, emotional, and aggressive.

It didn’t disappoint. Game two provided even more action, more excitement, and more moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats. And though the Predators captured a 2-1 win in overtime, the Stars’ effort was present. They still generated some good chances, still kept their defensive focus aligned, and still received a stellar performance from Ben Bishop in the net.

They were pretty physical, too. Game two got especially nasty at certain points, with various players tangling up, shoving, and face-washing each other. The hits were heavier, the crosschecks were more direct, and the overall style of the game had a more vicious intent than the first contest.

Roman Josi crosschecked Jamie Benn in the back as the Dallas captain played the puck behind the Nashville net. Tyler Seguin and P.K. Subban got tied up while driving to the net, and Subban ended up drawing a penalty (much to the disapproval of Seguin). Blake Comeau and Mikael Granlund were boxed for matching roughing penalties. Austin Watson got a little too aggressive with Alexander Radulov and went to the box for it. Mattias Ekholm sent Radek Faksa into the boards hard and went to the box on a boarding call.

The peak physical altercation came midway through the third period when Comeau and Craig Smith began jousting during a shift. It all began in the Nashville zone when the two skaters became tied up chasing a loose puck. They stayed close as play transitioned to the Dallas zone and eventually met up after play was whistled dead. Comeau started by giving a hearty crosscheck to the back of Smith, who stumbled to the ice. Upon regaining his balance, he turned around and proceeded to use a two-handed crosscheck to Comeau’s face. The interaction sparked a scrum between the 10 skaters on the ice and had every player tied up with a counterpart.

It just goes to show that this rivalry is growing. After an enticing regular season slate, the two teams are picking up where they left off. And as each game comes and goes, the level of ferocity and anger will likely only rise. Just look at the difference between games one and two. While there were only four more penalty minutes (18 in game one, 22 in game two) in the second game, the physicality was much more evident. Things got dirtier and nastier, leaving the Dallas Stars with a need to dig deep.

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And they did, for the most part. For a team that’s missing some of its biggest and most physical players (Stephen Johns, Marc Methot, Martin Hanzal) from the lineup, the Stars are holding their own. They are finishing their checks, matching each heavy blow that the Predators deal out, and making keeping their intensity up.

That’s going to be an important factor as this series rages on. The Dallas Stars need to keep their physicality levels up and growing. When the momentum tilts in a series, the less-favored team tends to get more desperate and play with more bite. The Predators did that on Saturday night and ended up securing a 2-1 win.

It’s now up to the Stars to respond. And if they are going to take the next step in this series, it will require a matching of physical drive. There is a line to walk, though, between being physical and still staying focused on the ultimate goal through their play. It’s up to Dallas to find that line (as they did in game one and for most of game two).

Things are getting chippy in the NHL’s newest rivalry, and that’s completely expected. But with 3-5 more games of this and each one being more important than the last, we may have only witnessed the tip of the iceberg through the first two contests.

“That’s playoff hockey,” said Stars goaltender Ben Bishop after game two. “It’s not obviously open like the regular season. Everybody’s checks finish and everybody’s going 110 percent. It’s not going to be that up-and-down style that you’re used to like in game 57 of the regular season. Everybody’s going 110 percent and that’s usually kind of what you get.”

Game three is a chance for both clubs to grab momentum. To do so, they will likely need a heavy dose of physicality. So, who prevails?