Dallas Stars: Top 3 keys to tying the series against Flames in Game 2

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Alexander Radulov #47 of the Dallas Stars (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /

2. Convert On Power Play Chances

The Stars have an abysmal 5v5 offense, but one way you can mask that flaw is by converting on power play chances. In Game 1, over 55 minutes were played at 5v5, which, again, goes to show you how crucial 5v5 offense is to success.

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However, the Stars had some chances to add some offense via the power play and they failed. Their power play was awful in the first period, as they only registered one shot on goal after Dillon Dube cross-checked Jason Dickinson.

It’s worth pointing out the Stars were better in the third period after Mark Giordano committed a delay of game penalty. With their goalie pulled, they were able to generate five shot attempts and two shots on goal in under a minute. But ultimately, the Stars weren’t able to convert, which cost them the game.

Here’s the tricky part – it can be very hard to get power plays in the playoffs. Refs tend to let teams “play it out” rather than call anything that isn’t a blatant infraction (and sometimes they even let those go).

The Stars power play is good enough to convert eventually, but if they want to beat the Flames in Game 2, they’ll have to convert on whatever chances they manage to get. Because unless the Stars hibernating 5v5 offense finally wakes up, that’s the only way they’re getting the goals they need to win.

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