Dallas Stars: Three Keys To Winning Game 7 Against St. Louis Blues

2. Continue Playing Their Style Of Road Playoff Hockey

Going into a Game 7 is always an intimidating factor. Knowing that your season is on the line and will either continue or end depending on how you play in one game is a daunting, if not frightening reality.

And when you’re forced to play in that deciding game away from home, it can seem like an almost impossible task. But for the Dallas Stars, it seems as though they are in a pretty good position as they travel up to the Gateway City for the final game of the series.

So far in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Stars are 4-2 on the road. In this series, they are 2-1. And in their two road wins against the Blues, they have used a quick start, defensive structure, and a strong performance from Ben Bishop to dictate the pace.

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In Game 1, Dallas fell just short in a 3-2 loss as the Blues claimed the first win of the set. Bishop let a few shots that he usually would have stopped go through, St. Louis scored on their first shot of the game, and the Stars were forced to try and play from behind for much of the contest.

But in Games 2 and 5, the Dallas Stars turned the tide. Dallas picked up a big 4-2 win in Game 2 to even the series up and did so using a strong start. The Stars were quick off of the opening face-off, maintained possession, and created plenty of early chances. Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, and Mattias Janmark all put pucks in the back of the net as the road team built an early 3-1 lead at first intermission, and the energy helped push them through to a win.

Game 5 involved much less offensive action, but still came up with the same result. Dallas worked their way out to an early lead when Jason Spezza scored on the doorstep just 2:42 into the game. His goal put Dallas on top 1-0 until Esa Lindell scored midway through the second period to double the lead to 2-0. And though the Blues made a last-ditch attempt in the third period, a solid defensive effort and superb showing from Ben Bishop (who stopped 38-39) helped lead the Stars to a 2-1 win.

So, the road isn’t necessarily the Stars’ kryptonite. In fact, it seems as though they are more comfortable when playing playoff hockey away from home.

“I think the road is a perfect spot for us to play,” said Stars forward Andrew Cogliano. “I think we’re confident in how we’ve been on the road all playoffs.”

In Game 7, the Dallas Stars will need to find a happy balance between their performances in Games 2 and 5. A fast start that catches St. Louis off guard will be critical, as will offensive support and an early lead. On the other hand, Dallas will also need to bring their A-game in the defensive zone and Bishop will need to be lights out.

"“We’ve been a really hardworking, business-like team all playoffs and we play an assertive type of game that is tough to compete with on a nightly basis. We just need to get back to how we play the game and get back to our structure and get back to being the team that got us here in the first place.” – Andrew Cogliano on a key to their Game 7 play"

That seems like a lot to ask of a team playing in its first Game 7 since 2016, when they were crushed 6-1 on home ice by the Blues. But this is a different season, a different team, and a new location. The opportunity remains the same.

“It’s a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let’s go embrace this,” said Stars coach Jim Montgomery. “This is what legends are made of. Go out there and play your game, fulfill it, and help us win a hockey game.”

If the Stars can maintain the pace early and set the tempo for the game using speed, dominant puck possession and a suffocating defensive effort, they should have a good chance at taking control in the contest.