Breaking Down Two Shifts Where Dallas Could Have Taken Over the Minnesota Series

But of course, they didn't

Let’s get something out of the way first: Yes, the Wyatt Johnston post-to-post attempt in the third period of Game 4 could have given Dallas a two-goal lead, and likely a 3-1 series lead. That’s all a matter of public record, and you don’t need me or anyone else to tell you that.

But today, I wanted to look past that big moment at a couple of shifts in Games 5 and 6. I think these two were indicative of why the Stars couldn’t ever quite grab hold of the series, even after that fateful moment in Game 4. So let’s look at a stretch from each of the final two games of the series, starting with the first period of Game 5.

Shift #1: Game 5 with 9:53 remaining in the first period

(This is kinda two shifts, but we’ll only focus on the latter.)

With Game 5 at home, Dallas had the opportunity to grab a 3-2 series lead, just as they had done in the first round against Colorado the year prior. And despite an early Minnesota goal, Dallas had every chance to take Game 5 over in the first period and put all the pressure on Minnesota down the stretch.

It all begins after Dallas tied the game up on the power play a minute prior, they kept the pressure up with a great shift by their third line. Despite losing Arttu Hyry right after the tying goal, Steel-Hryckowian-Benn and the third defense pairing hemmed in Minnesota for 56 seconds, forcing a (somewhat dubious) icing.

This isn’t the shift we’ll be dissecting, but it’s worth watching just to have the full context:

That Minnesota icing gave Dallas an offensive-zone draw against the same tired group of five for Minnesota: Tarasenko, Brink, and McCarron along with Minnesota’s second defense pairing of Brodin-Spurgeon. So to take advantage of the situation, Glen Gulutzan went to his top guys: Robertson-Duchene-Bourque, and Thomas Harley with Miro Heiskanen.

What ensued is this: another full minute of pressure in the offensive zone. Here’s the whole thing, but we’ll go piece by piece afterward: