Stars 'bend, don't break' in third to close out Game 6 win

DALLAS -- It was looking like a case of déjà vu, and not in a good way, for the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round.

They got a lead, this time by two goals, only for the Calgary Flames to erase it with two goals of their own. But unlike in Game 5, when the Stars allowed three straight goals in the third period, they stayed strong defensively. And thanks to that stoic play, they forced a Game 7 with a
4-2 win against the Calgary Flames
in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at American Airlines Center on Friday.
"We haven't always had good thirds at times with the lead and we wanted to kind of try and change that in our game, and we're going to need it," Stars forward Joe Pavelski said.
"You saw the other night they came out hard in the third and we didn't handle it well enough. Tonight was one of those situations where I think everyone bought in. We took a step in that right direction. Now we have a better understanding."
RELATED: [Complete Flames vs. Stars series coverage]
Game 7 will be in Calgary on Sunday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, BSSW).
The Stars had a 2-0 lead 6:04 into the second period on Friday before the Flames scored twice in less than four minutes to tie it. But Miro Heiskanen, who had Calgary's second goal deflect in off him, put Dallas back in front 3-2 at 17:32 of the period.
This time, that one-goal lead stood for the Stars through the final 20 minutes.
"It's one of those situations where you bend, don't break," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "Just get our game going again and we did. That was probably one of the best third periods we played all year. That's NHL playoff hockey at its best. That was a great hockey game, both teams, both goalies were great, every player on the ice was battling 100 percent. that's NHL hockey at its best right there."

The Flames had their opportunities, with 11 shots on goal in the third, but the Stars did a better job of breaking up Calgary's chances, not getting hemmed in their zone for too long and creating their own scoring chances on the other end.
Goalie Jake Oettinger was also strong throughout once again, making 36 saves for his third win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I think we went after them instead of sitting back," Stars forward Michael Raffl said. "We were closer to scoring another goal than [giving one up], I think. That's how it felt at least. Offense is the best defense in that scenario, so I thought that was one of our better third periods of the year and it was a timely one."
The Stars could've fallen into the bad habits that cost them Game 5, but they didn't, and now they'll have a chance to move on to the second round.
"Yeah, we can [play that kind of game]," Bowness said. "We've played well in that rink, all three games. So, it's going to be one heck of a hockey game on Sunday night, I'll promise you that."