NHL · 1 year ago

Dallas Stars 5 Keys to Winning the Western Conference Finals

Grant White

Host · Writer

Pepper Stuart Skinner
If there's a hole in Edmonton's armor, it's their goaltender. Stuart Skinner was yanked from the starter's crease in Round 2, and if the Stars force him out again in the Western Conference Final, the Oilers have no one else to turn to.

When it rains, it pours for old Skinner. The young netminder has been prone to bouts of ineffectiveness early in his career, failing to showcase the mental toughness to succeed in the playoffs. Dallas can add to that misery by throwing everything they can at the Oilers' goalie.

Skinner hasn't responded well to the increased playoff pressure. He was pulled in last year's playoff run and again in the previous round. This is the Oilers' most exploitable weakness, and the Stars need to use it to their advantage to keep their Stanley Cup aspirations alive.
Maintain Defensive Structure
After two convincing series wins against Western Conference juggernauts, the Dallas Stars prepare for their stiffest challenge yet. The Central Division winners head into the conference final against the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, looking to build off last year's disappointing finish. Dallas has already shut down the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights this postseason, and it needs to follow that up with a shutdown performance against the Oilers.

The Stars' defensive structure is second to none. In the playoffs, they've held opponents to 22.5 scoring and 7.8 high-danger chances per game, giving up more than ten quality chances just once over that stretch. That's an extension of their regular season success, in which the Stars gave up the fifth-fewest scoring and third-fewest high-danger chances.

As we've seen, Dallas possesses the defensive structure to hamstring the best the NHL has to offer. They can't abandon that standard as they head into the most pivotal matchup of the season.
Don't Get Into Run-and-Gun Games
As good as the Stars have been defensively, they have the offensive systems to match. Dallas has attempted more scoring and high-danger chances than any other team this postseason, but the last thing they want to do is play to the Oilers' strength and trade chances.

Edmonton's preferred style of game is letting their offense loose. They showed us much in the regular season, posting a 59.2% high-danger chance rating, putting them three points clear of the next closest squad. Further, we've seen them embrace that style of play at different points in the postseason.

As good as they are on both ends of the ice, the Stars can't let the Oilers dictate the pace in the Western Conference Final.
Rely on Depth Scoring
Still, the Stars can rely on one of their most pronounced advantages in trying to punch their tickets to the Stanley Cup Final. Already, Dallas has nine different players with at least six points. Moreover, 16 different players have found the back of the net, with nine players recording multiple tallies. That's the advantage they need to wield, turning to their unknown players to set them apart from their Pacific Division rivals.

Evgenii Dadonov and Matt Duchene are two names to keep an eye on in the third round. Both players are typically deployed in supporting roles and should have ample opportunity against inferior competition to drive scoring. Likewise, Logan Stankoven and Roope Hintz will be beneficiaries of ideal matchups throughout the series.

Maximizing output from lesser-known parts of the roster could be the deciding factor for Dallas.
Make the Most of Home-Ice Advantage
After dismantling the competition throughout the regular season, the Stars have the added advantage of playing four of the seven contests on home ice in the Western Conference Final. That means they don't have to win on the road to advance to their first championship series since 2020.

Neutralizing a potent Oilers' attack should be the most important aspect of the Stars' game planning. Thankfully, they can use home ice to their advantage in getting preferred lineup matchups against Edmonton's top performers. Further, it allows Dallas to deploy their top scorers under ideal circumstances.

The Stars can simplify their journey by maximizing their home-ice advantage.
Pepper Stuart Skinner
If there's a hole in Edmonton's armor, it's their goaltender. Stuart Skinner was yanked from the starter's crease in Round 2, and if the Stars force him out again in the Western Conference Final, the Oilers have no one else to turn to.

When it rains, it pours for old Skinner. The young netminder has been prone to bouts of ineffectiveness early in his career, failing to showcase the mental toughness to succeed in the playoffs. Dallas can add to that misery by throwing everything they can at the Oilers' goalie.

Skinner hasn't responded well to the increased playoff pressure. He was pulled in last year's playoff run and again in the previous round. This is the Oilers' most exploitable weakness, and the Stars need to use it to their advantage to keep their Stanley Cup aspirations alive.
Maintain Defensive Structure
After two convincing series wins against Western Conference juggernauts, the Dallas Stars prepare for their stiffest challenge yet. The Central Division winners head into the conference final against the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, looking to build off last year's disappointing finish. Dallas has already shut down the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights this postseason, and it needs to follow that up with a shutdown performance against the Oilers.

The Stars' defensive structure is second to none. In the playoffs, they've held opponents to 22.5 scoring and 7.8 high-danger chances per game, giving up more than ten quality chances just once over that stretch. That's an extension of their regular season success, in which the Stars gave up the fifth-fewest scoring and third-fewest high-danger chances.

As we've seen, Dallas possesses the defensive structure to hamstring the best the NHL has to offer. They can't abandon that standard as they head into the most pivotal matchup of the season.

Dallas Stars 5 Keys to Winning the Western Conference Finals

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