Game 2 Victory and the Road to Recovery
In order to win Game 2 late Monday night (technically, Tuesday morning) at the AAC — which was needed in order to survive according to coach Pete DeBoer — the Stars had to throw everything they had at Colorado.
An early goal from Tyler Seguin, just back for three games now after missing more than four months. Their first even-strength goal of the playoffs from defenseman Thomas Harley in the second period. A desperate penalty kill at the end of regulation and into overtime to stay afloat. Finally, a game-winner from Colin Blackwell, a healthy scratch Saturday night for Game 1.
DeBoer wanted him for energy. He gave Dallas an overtime goal and a 4-3 victory.
“I love rising to the occasion and finding moments like this,‘’ Blackwell said.
What’s Next for the Stars?
So, what’s next? I don’t think there is any question, even after coming back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to beat Colorado on Monday, the Stars need more when they get to Denver. More as in Miro.
Dallas has tried to make up for the absence of not only its best defenseman but best player for three months now. The Stars even thrived at times. But not lately. Not down the stretch when they slid into a frightening seven-game losing streak, not only costing them a shot at the No. 1 seed in the West but losing all confidence in the process.
The Importance of Miro Heiskanen
Heiskanen’s importance to this team is self-evident. Without him, Harley becomes the featured defenseman and, yes, he got that even-strength goal to give Dallas a brief 2-1 lead in the second period. His power play direction needs a lot of work, though, and it’s not a fault of his. He just isn’t Miro.
In the playoffs last year, Heiskanen’s 28 minutes, 11 seconds of ice time per night was more than three minutes greater than any of the Edmonton, Florida or New York players that made it as far as the conference finals. DeBoer nearly plays him into the ground because Heiskanen is that important, stabilizing matters at one end while facing the top opposing forwards and leading the charge the other direction on the power play when needed.
The Road to Recovery
Heiskanen has been missing since injuring a knee against Vegas in a collision with Mark Stone (him again) on Jan. 28. But he has been skating with the team for a considerable amount of time now, and it seems likely he will return at some point in this series. If Dallas has to wait any longer than the Denver games Wednesday and Saturday, that will be too late.
It seems far less likely that Jason Robertson is playing against the Avalanche. He left the final regular-season game at Nashville in a knee brace. He led the Stars with 35 goals this year, has scored 80 points each of the last two years and topped out with 109 in 2022-23, the first season of what Dallas hoped was an extended conference finals run.
Not so on the back end where he’s shorter than ever on quality D-men, he’s missing his absolute best and Jake Oettinger has struggled to handle the load. Otter was not great in the first two periods but he held Colorado scoreless in the last two, so there are signs of life.
The Stars are coming back into play. They need more to knock off Colorado and prepare for a probable date with Winnipeg. They need Miro.
X: @TimCowlishaw
Fighting back: See photos from Dallas Stars’ Game 2 victory over Colorado Avalanche in OT
Conclusion
The Stars have shown resilience and determination in their Game 2 victory, but they know they need more to overcome the challenges ahead. With the potential return of Miro Heiskanen and the continued contributions of players like Colin Blackwell, the team is looking to build momentum and make a deep playoff run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the score of Game 2 between the Stars and Avalanche?
A: The Stars won 4-3 in overtime.
Q: Who scored the game-winning goal for the Stars?
A: Colin Blackwell scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Q: When is Miro Heiskanen expected to return to the lineup?
A: Heiskanen has been skating with the team and is expected to return at some point in the series, possibly for the Denver games on Wednesday and Saturday.
Q: How important is Miro Heiskanen to the Stars’ success?
A: Heiskanen is the team’s best defenseman and player, and his absence has been deeply felt. His return would be a significant boost to the team’s chances of advancing in the playoffs.
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