When the Dallas Stars made the biggest splash at the NHL Trade Deadline by acquiring Mikko Rantanen for an arm and a leg, the first thought on everyone’s mind was something along the lines of, “This is the superstar piece that can finally put Dallas over the top.”
The second thought that came to mind was something like, “Okay, but what the heck are you going to do about the defense?”
With Miro Heiskanen injured and no real cap space (or assets) to overpay for one of the few somewhat decent defenders available at the deadline, the Stars decided to stand pat on the blueline. Instead, they seemed to accept that for the rest of the year, their strategy would be to essentially score enough goals and have Oettinger stand on his head enough that they didn’t actually need a championship caliber defense to make a deep playoff run.
Last night, we got to see that vision come to fruition. The Stars began the game greatly outshooting the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 before proceeding to do the exact opposite for the rest of it. They were outshot 19-10 after one, 35(!)-19 after two, and 48-26 at the end of the evening. They went down 2-0 in the first period, and it looked very much like we’d have another Game 4 on our hands.
But then came the fabled offense destined to outscore the Stars problems, as the Stars’ top line scored four(!) times in the second period alone to head into the locker room up 4-3. First it was Roope Hintz on the power play, courtesy of Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. Then Rantanen and Hintz setup Mikael Granlund (the Stars other big mid-season forward acquisition) for a breakaway to tie things up 2-2.
Colorado answered right back, but then so did the Stars as Rantanen set up Hintz, who proceeded to score his own goal off the rush for his second of the night. And then at the end of the period, not satisfied with a measly three points each, Rantanen and Hintz (and Cody Ceci) connected again to take the lead. All the puzzle pieces were fitting in — everything was going just as planned.
…the problem, of course, was that the “plan” was very faulty to begin with. The problem with trying to outscore your problems is that you still have to outscore them. And that, as everyone noted heading into the series, was always going to be a tall task against the Avalanche. And sure enough, Valeri Nichushkin scored his second of the night six minutes into the third, and Nathan MacKinnon got the eventual game-winner three minutes later on… whatever that was.
Actually, let’s take a moment to talk about that goal, and by extension the first Colorado goal, and arguably event the setup for the second Colorado goal. Our wonderful managing editor, Taylor Baird, shared in our staff slack before the day some commentary from an Avalanche fan account about how Dallas had gotten all of the “puck luck.” First of all, that was just downright silly (remember Game 1?). Second of all, it was, in hindsight, both foreboding and ironic given that Colorado was by far the biggest beneficiary of “puck luck” last night.
That being said, I’m sorry, but Dallas (and their fans) have little to no room to complain about losing because of said bounces. Not when you get outshot 48-26 — at that point, you are going to let goals in, especially against a high offense team like the Avalanche. Asking your goaltender to stop 45 shots in regulation while you can barely manage half of that is just silly, in my opinion — there’s a big difference between a goalie standing on his head to make those few crucial key saves and asking, “okay but why didn’t you do that another half dozen times?”
If that comes off as a heated defense of Jake Oettinger’s performance, it’s meant to be. Among others, I saw one writer I enjoy very much imply that while Oettinger did not play badly, he”failed” in that he didn’t secure the win and got “beat” by Mackenzie Blackwood. Now I concede that I am, and always have been, a huge Oettinger fan, whereas this writer (who, again, I enjoy and respect very much) does not share that opinion, but I can’t wrap my head around that takeaway. I don’t think Stars fans can blame puck luck for the loss, but you kind of can if you’re Oettinger — out of those five goals against, how many do you think Oettinger wishes he had a second crack at. Two? Maybe three? Out of 48 shots on goal?
As for getting “beat” by Blackwood… I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I watched the same game. The Mackenzie Blackwood I saw was the same one from Game 5, who looked rough as he got absolutely lit up in the second period, allowing on average almost a goal every other shot. Had it not been a one-goal game in which Colorado was still vastly out-chancing the Stars, I would not have been surprised to see Scott Wedgewood take the ice after the second intermission (again). It’s my honest belief that if the Stars had put anywhere nearly as much pressure on Blackwood as the Avalanche did to Oettigner (or, preferably, that the Stars simply didn’t allow as much pressure on Oettinger) that we’d all be celebrating and rooting for the St. Louis Blues tonight, if anything because we’d want them and the Winnipeg Jets to hit seven games.
And if you’re looking for optimism, I think that’s it: once again, the Stars’ top forward showed up. Once again, the Stars won the special teams battle. And once again, Oettinger (in my opinion) played well while Blackwood looked shaky. If the Stars are able to dictate their own style of Game on home ice and prevent the Avalanche from running all over them, then there’s no reason they can’t win this series sans Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. Heck, do that and I’m not even sure they would even need Pete DeBoer’s crazy Game 7 voodoo magic that must have cost him his soul or something.
…But just to be on the safe side, you did make that deal with the devil, right Pete? Good, just checking.
Keeping the bullet points quick and short this time:
• First of all, I’m glad that Lian Bichsel is okay. Foremost because you never want to see a player get hurt, and secondmost because he’s been a big factor in this series with his physicality. I was convinced heading into the playoffs that Bichsel would be the odd-man out of the lineup due to his lack of experience, but luckily DeBoer gave him the chance, and he’s done well with the opportunity.
• After much complaining about Cale Makar’s performance this series, I think he stepped up and delivered this game. I also really, really hope that Dallas not only wins Game 7, but that Makar is held at least without a goal, solely so we can poke fun how Makar could only score when the net was empty.
• I will never understand how Nichushkin went a full season without scoring for the Stars. And that made that first funny goal of the evening especially cruel from the hockey gods.
• Calling my shot: Stars win 3-2, Thomas Harley with the overtime game-winner in his best 2019 John Klingberg impersonation.