Dallas Stars: Things To Watch In Second Round Against St. Louis Blues

A Special Teams Battle

While the focus will largely be put on Bishop and Binnington, the series could also be drastically affected by special teams. And with both teams possessing a strong part and struggling part in their special teams department, the battle could be all the more influential.

The Stars put together a clinic on their penalty kill in the opening round against the Predators. Dallas was a perfect 15-for-15 on the PK, not allowing the Predators a single power play goal. They were structured in the defensive zone and played with a frustrating pace, never really allowing the Predators to set up and get a chance going on the man advantage. And while Nashville did boast the worst power play in the NHL during the regular season, credit must still be given to the Stars for shutting them down at big moments throughout the series.

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Pucks and Pitchforks

Their power play, however, could have used a little polishing. Dallas went 4-for-22 on the PP during the six games in round one, rounding their percentage out at 18.2 percent. While that may not seem bad, it’s important to remember that they went 3-for-6 on the man advantage in Game 4 when they trounced the Predators 5-1. When you don’t include that one red-hot performance, the Dallas PP went 1-for-16 (6.25 percent).

Meanwhile, the Blues posted a rough 11-for-14 showing (78.6 percent) on the PK in round one against a high-flying Winnipeg power play. They made up for it on the power play, however, by going 5-for-19 (26.3 percent). They have the shooters and offensive powerhouses to put together a strong power play effort and did just that against a struggling Jets penalty kill.

And that’s where these two second-round forces could clash. For the Dallas Stars, their perfect penalty kill will be challenged by a surging St. Louis power play. On the other hand, the Stars power play has an opportunity to step it up against a struggling St. Louis PK.

The opportunities are there for both clubs to use special teams to their advantage. Certain games and the series as a whole could end up being determined by how each team can do shorthanded and on the man advantage.

Keep an eye out whenever the whistles blow and players head for the box. It might just end up being the extra weight that tips the scales one way or the other in a given game.