The Dallas Stars find themselves in a familiar predicament after suffering their sixth Game 1 loss. The Colorado Avalanche are aiming to extend their advantage and push the Stars into a 0-2 deficit once again.
The Dallas Stars are in an all-too familiar hole.
This is their sixth consecutive playoff series over three postseasons, the fourth at home, that they go into Game 2 after losing the opener.
“It’s not ideal, we know that. And it’s definitely not the plan,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday.
"We're kind of playing with fire when you put yourself in that position enough," forward Joe Pavelski remarked.
As they gear up for Game 2 of their second-round Western Conference series against Colorado on Thursday night (9:30 p.m. ET/TNT), the Stars are aiming to avoid a repeat of the opening round. Two weeks ago, they suffered losses in the first two games at home to Vegas, the defending Stanley Cup champions, although they rallied to win the series in seven games.
In the only other NHL playoff game on Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes find themselves in their own 0-2 hole against the Rangers. New York has emerged victorious in all six of its games this postseason, including a 4-3 double-overtime triumph on Tuesday night.
Last year, Dallas lost Game 1 at home twice but managed to bounce back to win the second game in each series on their way to advancing: in six games against Minnesota and seven against Seattle.
The 2022 Stanley Cup champion Avalanche have secured five consecutive victories since their wild 7-6 loss at Winnipeg in the opening game of these playoffs. Colorado claimed a 4-3 overtime win against Dallas after a full week between games and overcoming a 3-0 deficit in the first period.
"I definitely feel better when I'm in a rhythm," said Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, who scored the game-tying goal early in the third period. "I don't love taking time off. But I think we'll feel better as we play Games 2-3-4."
Colorado boasts four players who have registered points in every game this postseason: league MVP finalist MacKinnon, defenseman Cale Makar, former Stars first-round draft pick Valeri Nichushkin, and Mikko Rantannen. All of them have multiple goals.
However, the Stars are still waiting for some of their key scorers to find their form this postseason.
Pavelski, who holds the record for the most career playoff goals among U.S.-born players with 73, is yet to score this postseason and only registered his first assist in Game 1 against the Avalanche. Matt Duchene has only managed one goal, and Roope Hintz's lone goal, without any assists, was an empty-netter against Vegas. Rookie Logan Stankoven, who scored six goals in his first 12 games after making his NHL debut in late February, hasn't found the net since then, spanning the last 12 regular-season games and eight playoff games.
"The strength of our team all year has been if Roope Hintz's line doesn't score, then Matt Duchene's line scores. If Matt Duchene's line doesn't score, then Wyatt Johnston's line scores. If none of those guys score, our fourth line scores," said coach DeBoer. "Our depth has to show up in this series."
In the matchup between the Rangers and the Hurricanes, New York currently leads 2-0, with the game set for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). The special-teams battle has heavily favored the Rangers so far, and Carolina will need to find a way to close that gap.
Both teams ranked in the top three in the regular season on both the power play and the penalty kill, with Carolina leading the league in penalty killing (86.4%). However, the Rangers have scored two power-play goals in each of the first two games, while the Hurricanes are 0 for 10 on the power play, going 0 for 5 in both games.
"At this time of year, special teams can win a series, win games," said Rangers defenseman Adam Fox after Tuesday's double-overtime win, which was decided by a power-play goal.
Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour emphasized the need for improvement, stating, "We've got to get a little more at the net, a little more inside."
Despite Carolina's statistical advantages in various areas, including shots on goal and shot attempts, the team finds themselves trailing in the series due to the Rangers' dominance on special teams.
"Special teams decided both of the games and they were better at those," remarked Carolina forward Martin Necas.
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