Back come the Dallas Stars. What else is new?
The team that had to scramble for a playoff spot, then overcame a deficit to win in the opening round, started what it hopes is another surge by beating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 Wednesday in Dallas to even their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series 2-2.
The National Hockey League wild-card team built a three-goal lead during a dominant second period against the Blues, who hadn’t lost a road game these playoffs, then capably defended its lead in the third to head back to St. Louis for Game 5 on Friday with the best-of-seven tied.
In its first-round victory against the Nashville Predators, the Stars fell behind 2-1 before winning three straight games by a combined score of 12-5.
After St. Louis coach Craig Berube’s line alternations paid off with a 4-3 win in Game 3 on Monday, Dallas coach Jim Montgomery countered for Game 4 and got more effort and offence from his top two units by breaking up the Stars Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov.
Roope Hintz played with Seguin and Radulov and scored Dallas’ final goal, while Seguin moved between Mats Zuccarello and Jason Dickinson and had two assists, including on Dickinson’s marker that tied it 1-1 at 11:23 of the first period.
Jason Spezza and John Klingberg also scored for the Stars, while the Blues got goals from Vladimir Tarasenko and Robert Thomas.
You’re move, Berube.
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BATTLING BINNINGTON
If the Blues had shown as much combativeness as goalie Jordan Binnington during their flat second period, they might not have trailed 4-1 heading into the final 20 minutes.
Binnington, who may not win the Calder Trophy but could win the Conn Smythe if the Blues get to the Stanley Cup Final, channeled Ron Hextall at the end of the second period. After Benn prodded Binnington between his pads at the buzzer, the rookie goalie skated out of his crease to cuff the Dallas captain.
Not satisfied, Binnington then chopped Ben Bishop with his stick when the goalies’ paths crossed as they headed off the ice. Putting his team shorthanded — the initial call was offsetting penalties to Benn and Binnington — wasn’t smart. But Binnington certainly got everyone’s attention, including his team’s.
St. Louis killed off their extra slashing minor to start the third period, then outshot Dallas 12-4 the rest of the way.
Benn’s visit to Binnington’s crease at the end of the period likely had something to do with David Perron’s dangerous slash on Bishop late in the middle frame. Referee Brian Pochmara called nothing while staring straight at the players when Perron two-handed Bishop across the back as the goalie played the puck from behind his net.
JUST SAYING
Hey, if the NHL thinks its OK for Boston Bruin Brad Marchand to rabbit-punch guys from behind while they’re kneeling on the ice and play is stopped, no wonder Perron figured he could get away with laying the lumber on a goalie during play.
RISE OF THE ROOKIES
Two of the best players in this series are Dallas rookie defenceman Miro Heiskanen and St. Louis freshman Thomas, who had seven shot attempts Wednesday and whose confidence with the puck seems to be growing by the game.
Like Calder Trophy favourite Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks did during the regular season, Heiskanen seems to make a couple of plays a game that cause you drop the remote control and check HockeyDB to make sure he’s really only 19 years old.
Wednesday, it wasn’t just that Heiskanen got behind the Blues on a second-period breakaway by hitting the jets to separate himself from St. Louis defenceman Robert Bortuzzo. But after Binnington made a terrific save, Heiskanen, instead of peeling away, located the puck in mid-air and tried to whack it back to the front of the net.
Pettersson, Binnington and Buffalo defenceman Rasmus Dahlin are the Calder Trophy finalists. They’re all good picks, but somehow Heiskanen should be going to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards, too.
LATE RISE OF THE RUSSIAN
With Mongomery’s reconfigured forward lines, Radulov wasn’t quite a noticeable as he was in Game 3 — until you looked at the scoresheet after the game and saw he had two assists, three shots and three hits in just 15:13 of ice time. Radulov has nine hits in the series’ first four games which, for context, equals his total from the final six weeks of the regular season.
And it’s not like he loafed into the playoffs — the Russian drove the Stars down the stretch with seven goals and 15 points in the last 10 regular-season games. Since then, he has nine points and 42 shots on goal in 10 playoff games.
Seeing Radulov’s level of engagement, how hard he is working in tough areas, it’s difficult to believe this is the same maligned, flighty forward who twice left Nashville and the NHL for more lucrative paydays in the Kontinental Hockey League.
At 32 years old, with most of his career exhausted, Radulov is trying to make the Stanley Cup Final, not money. He is impressive to watch. But you naturally wonder if he regrets the eight years in his 20s that he spent in the KHL when there was a career for him — and the Stanley Cup to chase — over here. Maybe not. But it sure looks like there’s no place he would rather be now.
