The Dallas Stars don’t have to worry about summer vacation.
The team’s squats in the Western Conference Finals series were unfathomable. Although the end result was a decent defeat with 2-4 wins, the truth behind the numbers was more bleak – especially when it came to playing at home.
On Tuesday morning, the confusing 0-6 loss made jaws drop to the floor. Dallas, which lost the first three games in the series, fought with two hard wins to join the fight for the final match place, but in the end, only a tasteless pancake was offered.
And Tuesday’s squat was not the only one of its kind.
Six days earlier, it lost 0–4 on home ice.
The combined goals of Dallas’ three home games were recorded as 12–3 in favor of Vegas, who advanced to the finals of the Stanley Cup.
Especially on Tuesday, there was a total passing game from Dallas in the most important place of the season. The battle was almost over when the away team scored 3-0. In two sets, with five against five, Dallas did not have a single first goal chance from the best scoring sector.
Vegas showed in a blunt way what a tough and seasoned playoff team it is.
The tip broke and then everything was gone
Dallas finally fell hard and high in the match series led by their top players. Roope Hintz led by the first chain flashed here and there and scored an important goal, but as a whole the chain could not get to the familiar flight from the previous rounds. Vegas’ key players were better than Dallas’ counterparts.
Dallas’ stumbling block was playing five-on-five. Its dominance game worked well, but in straight fives it was nowhere near Vegas. None of the key players in the star jerseys won their 5-on-5 game – and when the lead broke, the last hope was gone.
For example, completely irreplaceable for his team Miro Heiskanen ended up being on the totally wrong side of the game in the statistics, and often through no fault of his own. All the same, with Heiskanen on the ice, Dallas lost their game 5 to 5 with goals 4–12. Best Defensive Defender, Esa Lindell the balance was 2–7.
Dallas’ top chain also lost their game and there was no support behind them. For example, operating on a $9.85 million contract Tyler Seguin was not on the ice during any Dallas 5-on-5 scoring. In Omi, on the other hand, it was broken seven times.
And there was no savior from the superiority game. In the last three games, the referees kept the whistle firmly in their pockets and, for example, in the fifth game, Dallas did not get a single advantage opportunity – the balance of the last three games in total was four advantage games.
The series was settled – as it should be – by playing five against five, and Dallas had no comeback in that battle. The flaws in the structure of Dallas’ play came out in a blunt way in the series that ended, as a result of which the players repeatedly ended up, so to speak, on the wrong side of the game and situations.
The biggest game ahead in the summer
Despite everything, Dallas is a club in a good stage in many places, which should have a great future ahead of it.
On the other hand, at the same time, Dallas has some important questions on the table regarding the structure of the team. The past spring showed in a blunt way that the team is not yet deep and quality enough to win the Stanley Cup.
And now we’re talking about every part of the lineup, from goalkeepers to forwards.
Dallas has a tough summer ahead of it. Six forwards and one defender are out of contract, and only Seven’s million of money is available. With that money, the Stars can’t build two Stanley Cup-level bottom chains, not to mention the necessary strengthening of the defense. A high-quality second keeper should also be found somewhere.
So where does the money come from?
The situation of the previously mentioned Tyler Seguin is becoming unbearable for the club. The Canadian center’s cap hit of 9.85 million doesn’t even match his level of play. On the other hand, he has a clause in his contract preventing any kind of transfer. Nothing can be done without the player’s consent. And the money can’t be used anywhere else in the lineup.
Kudos to Vegas – will Finland be left with a bone in its hand again?
Instead of flogging Dallas too much, credit should be given where it’s due. Vegas proved it wasn’t in vain for a fourth time in the conference finals in five years. The Knights of Kasinokaupunki is a really high-quality, deep, seasoned and tough team, right up to the fourth chain and the third pair of defenders.
Sensational goalkeeper of the spring Adin Hill excels as the last lock in goal.
According to Finns, Vegas’ progression to the final was not what the doctor ordered. The conference finals hype of the three Finnish first-ranked centers congealed at a fast pace so that only one Finnish team will be seen in the finals, Alexander Barkov, by Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Tuomo Ruudun represented by Florida.
The Stanley Cup has toured Finland strictly except for last year – not again, I guess?
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