3 Takeaways From Stars’ 4-2 Game 5 Loss

After an uninspiring 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night, the Dallas Stars are now on the brink of elimination. Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson scored for the Stars, while Jake Oettinger made 24 saves on 27 shots.

Mats Zuccarello, Matt Boldy, Michael McCarron, and Kirill Kaprizov scored for the Wild, while Jesper Wallstedt made 20 saves on 22 shots. Game 6 is on Thursday night in Minnesota.

Stars’ 5-on-5 Woes Continue

If you’ve watched five minutes of this series, you know that the Stars “can’t hang 5-on-5” with the Wild, according to Zuccarello, and have relied on their power play to generate offense. Robertson’s goal at 13:48 of the first period in Game 3 was the Stars’ last 5-on-5 goal, which means they have not scored an even-strength goal in 214 minutes and 32 seconds. According to the statsheet, Robertson’s goal in Game 5 was at even strength, but really, it was a 4-on-4 turned 5-on-4 with Oettinger sitting on the bench.

After Game 4, The Hockey Writers’ Alex Chauvancy did a great job of breaking down the Stars’ even-strength woes, not just in Game 4, but throughout the series. Game 4 was probably their best showing at 5-on-5, specifically during the second period, but they couldn’t get the job done, and whatever goodwill they built up, it all went out the window on Tuesday.

“We just couldn’t create enough, especially 5-on-5,” Heiskanen said. “That was the biggest issue tonight. Just have to fix that and get better next game. We just have to simplify. I think there are times where we’re trying to do too much. Just simplify. Get guys to the net, get pucks to the net, and get a couple of crazy ones. Right now, we have to play our best game. It’s not the spot you want to be in, but we’re a good road team. We’re going to go on the road and play our best and come back here (for Game 7).”

Head coach Glen Gulutzan was a bit more gracious with his observation, but still expects more from his team on Thursday night: “I thought (the Wild) did a good job, certainly. They blocked some of our looks. I thought we generated some good slot shots, attempts. We missed the net too on a few that could have turned into something a little better – That was one of the big things I noticed, is what we did kind of get to the interior with some attempts. Some got blocked, and some we plain old missed. This time of year, you need to be dialed in there and get some of those. And if they don’t go in, you can get residual (chances) off it.”

There were also a lot of shots from the point that might have gone in had the forwards in front of the net not moved out of the way to try to tip it in, rather than stay in front of Wallstedt, looking for a favorable bounce.

Now, the positive is that Robertson scored on the power play, yet again, which doesn’t just mean that the man advantage kept on rolling, but that Robertson has scored in every game of this series.

Stars’ Leaders & Playmakers Need to Step Up

There are three key players, maybe four, that are exempt from the list of players that need to light a fire under their behinds. Most of their offensive numbers have been generated on the power play, so we’re not going to dwell on that too much, even though it is important.

Robertson has five goals, eight points, and 28 shots (5.6 shots per game). Heiskanen has two goals, six points, and 19 shots, and has played extremely well at both ends of the ice. Oettinger has bounced back from a forgettable Game 1 and has given the Stars every opportunity to win each night. In Games 2 through 5, Oettinger has a .916 save percentage and a 2.30 goals-against average. Even after allowing a bad goal on Tuesday, the Stars were still in the game and could have taken it over.

My honorable mention here is Matt Duchene. While he wasn’t overly noticeable in Game 5, and must step up in certain areas of his game, he has played well overall, and is not the reason that the Stars are one loss away from ending their playoff run.

Three players need to get cooking in Game 6, starting with Mikko Rantanen. I know he was dealing with an injury before the playoffs, but he does not look like himself. Everyone benefits when he uses his mind and his body to create, and he simply is not doing that.

The second is captain Jamie Benn. Aside from taking a vicious penalty in the third period last night, he has been almost invincible. He’s not the playmaking power forward he once was, but he leads with intensity and energy, and that has been missing this series.

Lastly, Wyatt Johnston. While Johnston’s specialty is the power play, he can still be a highly effective player at 5-on-5, and he hasn’t been thus far. The Wild have done a great job of limiting his time and space, but this is the playoffs, and he has to find a way to carry his weight at even strength.

Stars’ Injuries Continue to Be a Factor

Gulutzan said that center Roope Hintz will not play in Game 6 and is questionable for Game 7. He hasn’t played at all this series, and no one should expect to see him against the Wild. If the Stars move on, we can talk about this again. Until then, I’m assuming he won’t play.

Nils Lundkvist did not play in Game 5 and won’t play in Game 6, either, after getting cut by a skate on the face. With Ilya Lyubushkin checking in and playing in Tyler Myers spot, Myers went up beside Thomas Harley in Lundkvist’s spot, and did not look good. Myers was a key addition to this D-core, and whether it’s assignment, roster placement, or something else, Myers is going to have to be effective one way or another for the team to play another game.

Arttu Hyry left Game 5 in the second period with a lower-body injury and is unlikely to play on Thursday.

Stars Look Ahead to Game 6

Many people predicted this series to go seven games. But to reach Game 7, someone has to win Game 6, and every Game 6 winner was on the brink of elimination. It feels bleak because of what we saw in Games 1 and 5, but this was always going to be a long series, and despite what we’ve seen, the Stars can still win this series. Whether they believe it or not, which I’m sure they do, they are saying the right things.

“We knew it was going to be a long series, and we knew it was going to be a tight series,” Benn said. “We feel we could be up 3-2 in the series, but we are not, and that is just hockey. Now, we get to go on the road to win one game. That’s all it is. We have been a great road team all year, and we will go up there and try to win the game.”

“We all understand the series,” Gulutzan said. “One of the things you can’t do is get frustrated, because that doesn’t help. You just have to stick with it.”

“It gets frustrating sometimes, but this is really not the time of year to get frustrated,” Rantanen said. “You know you’ve got to just keep plugging away, you’ve got to adapt, try to find a way. There’s no time to be frustrated; that doesn’t help at all.”

After a disappointing loss, Heiskanen said, maybe the most calming and comforting thing of all: “Just go out there and give everything you have and enjoy it. It’s a fun time of the year. I think you’re playing your best when you’re having fun, and I think that’s been key the past couple of years.”