Dallas Stars Set Sights On Second Road Playoff Win Against Predators
By Josh Clark
The stage is set for a big game two between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators on Saturday night. It presents both an opportunity for the Predators to draw back to even after a slow start and for the Stars to take a firm grip on the series before heading back to Dallas. Who will prevail?
If you thought that the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators put together an intense start to their first-ever playoff series against each other, you were right. If you thought the wait between Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon felt like an eternity, you weren’t alone.
And if you think that there could be anywhere between 3-6 games left in this series that are even more intense than the first, you are probably right.
After putting together a fireworks show filled with back-and-forth action and plenty of momentum swings in game one, the Stars and Predators are back for another round.
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It all started back on Wednesday night when Dallas entered a rowdy Bridgestone Arena and dug their heels in for the opening game of a thrilling Western Conference quarterfinals series. And while they didn’t piece together the most dominant start to the game and allowed the Predators to gain some momentum, they entered first intermission in a familiar position (largely thanks to the superb work of Ben Bishop, who stopped 11-12 in the opening frame).
The Stars started the second period in a 1-0 hole, but it didn’t take long for things to start churning in their direction. They looked faster, hungrier, and more determined than a Nashville team that seemed content with its one-goal lead. Miro Heiskanen scored a power play goal in his NHL playoff debut midway through the period to knot things up at 1-1.
But Dallas didn’t stop there. They kept pushing into the third period and tacked on two more goals thanks to Alexander Radulov and Mats Zuccarello. A 3-1 lead was cut in half when P.K. Subban scored late in the final frame, but Bishop stood tall and helped the Stars PK shut the door in the final few minutes to secure the 3-2 victory.
It was a big win that helped shift the uncertain momentum going into the series in favor of the Dallas Stars.
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And though it was an impressive win in a tough building, there’s no time to rest on success.
After two days of rest, the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators will get back into the fight on Saturday night.
Game two presents a handful of opportunities to both teams. For the Predators, it’s a chance to right the wrongs that they committed in game one and split the series for their home fans before heading to Dallas for games 3-4. It’s also an opportunity to reignite their hopes and avoid a drastic 2-0 hole.
For the Stars, it’s an opportunity to test their mindset. Can they look past a big win in game one and continue pushing the pace and setting the tempo in game two? Or will they fall to the “try and steal one” mentality and let Nashville push back before heading to Texas?
There’s a lot on the line, and the mindsets of both clubs will play a big role in determining who comes out on top. Expect game two to involve more physicality and aggression as the two clubs settle in for what should be a long, grinding series.
After a stellar start in game one, Ben Bishop is expected to get the start in Saturday night’s game as well. In addition, there are no expected lineup changes for the Dallas Stars. Here’s how the Stars are expected to line up going into game two:
Jason Dickinson – Tyler Seguin – Alexander Radulov
Jamie Benn – Roope Hintz – Mats Zuccarello
Andrew Cogliano – Radek Faksa – Blake Comeau
Mattias Janmark – Justin Dowling – Tyler Pitlick
Miro Heiskanen – Roman Polak
Ben Bishop
In addition, the power play and penalty kill units are expected to line up similarly to their game one look. That should bode well for Stars coach Jim Montgomery, considering the power play finished 1/3 and the penalty kill went 4/4.
The game is shaping up to be a critical juncture in the series. If Dallas wins, they can put the series into a chokehold as they head back to the American Airlines Center for two games. If Nashville wins, the series is tied and the Predators will control the momentum as the teams head south.
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Will the second power play unit serve in another big role? Can Miro Heiskanen step back into the spotlight and have another big game? Who will step up and serve as the Stars’ scorers tonight?
It’s a big game. But then again, every game from here on out is bigger than the last. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Bridgestone Arena.