Faksa’s breakout performance the difference for Stars in Game 1

Radek Faksa scored the tiebreaking goal in the third and the Dallas Stars defeated the St. Louis Blues in Game 1.

DALLAS — It was an epiphany for some when Jamie Benn suited up for Team Canada at the Olympics, becoming their best forward at times. For others, it simply affirmed how little time some so-called hockey experts spend watching teams like the Dallas Stars.

Then we arrived here in Texas for Game 1 of this Western Conference semi-final, and I’ve gotta say, I looked down more than once to confirm who that No. 12 for Dallas was.

Radek Faksa. Played 45 NHL games. The Czech kid… From the 2012 draft, right?

Can’t say we know much about him.

“Well, you’re going to learn,” Stars veteran Jason Spezza promised. “He’s a heck of a player.”

Isn’t that the Gospel truth? Faksa had a goal and assist in a 2-1 Dallas Stars victory that opened this series against the St. Louis Blues, a matchup between the NHL’s No. 2 (Dallas) and No. 3 ranked teams in the regular season, and the best two clubs in the Central, by far the best Division in today’s NHL.

And while the usual suspects did their best to get a leg up against a familiar opponent, it was a 22-year-old from tiny Vitkov in the Czech Republic who was absolutely thrilled when he followed countryman Ales Hemsky to the net for the game-winner with 4:44 left in the evening.

“I’m very excited after every goal, maybe too excited,” he gushed in the post-game dressing room. “(He is) enjoying every game in the NHL. Just a big excitement for me. It just feels great.”

It is infectious for players like Spezza and Hemsky, guys who’ve made long runs in previous springs and can remember what those first few playoff goals felt like. Same for head coach Lindy Ruff, who was in his second year of coaching when Faksa was born back in ’94.

“He brings enthusiasm, a big smile on his face, his willingness to do whatever it takes to win right now,” smiled Ruff. “He’s having a great time. He’s a kid that he’s enjoying every minute he plays. And you can see it in his game.

“There isn’t a battle he doesn’t want to engage in. There isn’t a play he doesn’t… Not a play he quits on. His play’s been infectious for our team.”

Faksa was drafted 13th overall in the first round in 2012, right between Buffalo Sabres picks Russian Mikhail Grigorenko and Latvian Zemgus Girgensons. From that Eastern prospect Bloc, Faksa has played the least NHL games thus far, losing a season to a shoulder injury while smartly re-crafting his game to find success at this level.

“Really good two-way player. We don’t have too many guys like that in Czech,” said Hemsky, who has taken the youngster into his home here in Dallas. “I don’t think he’s always (played) like that, but he figured it out how to make the NHL and made the switch in the minors. He’s really strong on the puck, good on faceoffs, and he can score too. A lot of good things.”

This Game 1 was typical: Both teams had emerged from emotional first round series, culminating in a soul-taxing Game 7 win for the Blues over Chicago, while Dallas watched a 4-0 third period lead over Minnesota all but disappear before rescuing their Game 6 from the fire. Phew!

The script is predictable in Round 2. The intensity ratchets back a few notches, to be raised again as this series rolls along — the perfect recipe for St. Louis to steal a road win. But Dallas was better, and if not for Blues goalie Brian Elliott this would have been a blow out.

The stingy Blues gave up 42 shots on net, not a recipe for success against the NHL’s highest scoring team in the regular season. “We’re not going to beat anybody giving up 40 shots on goal,” groused a grumpy Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, “and we’re not going to beat anybody giving up the scoring chances we did today.”

The Stars won this game 2-1, and it’s only one game into what could be a long series. But they also won the battle within the playoff battle in Game 1. They dictated the way this game was played, and they’ll beat St. Louis if that doesn’t change.

That’s just the Faksa.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.