Hintz raises level for Stars in Game 5 win in Western 2nd Round

DALLAS -- Roope Hintz has reached a new level in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Dallas Stars pull within a win of the Western Conference Final.

The 26-year-old forward had two goals and an assist in a 5-2 win against the Seattle Kraken in Game 5 of the second round at American Airlines Center on Thursday.

He has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 11 games, tying for the playoff scoring lead with Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, who has 18 points (13 goals, five assists) in 10 games. Only Draisaitl has more goals.

The Stars lead 3-2 in the best-of-7 series, with Game 6 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS).

"He's been just an absolute monster for us this playoff, at the most important times," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "I mean, this is obviously a critical game for our group, and he comes out in the first 10 minutes and basically lets everyone in the building know that he's here to play and dragging our group around, and he's done that the entire playoff.

"It's almost been a little bit of a coming out party for him. I think he's been a playoff player before, and a good playoff player, but he hasn't been a dominant playoff player. That's what he looks like in this year's playoffs."

RELATED: [Complete Stars vs. Kraken series coverage]

Hintz has blossomed offensively the past two regular seasons. He set NHL career highs in goals (37), assists (35) and points (72) last season, then matched his high in goals (37) and reached new highs in assists (38) and points (75) this season.

He has set NHL career postseason highs for goals and points in these playoffs. He's one away from his career postseason high in assists (11 in 2020).

Asked if Hintz was underappreciated nationally, Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said: "Yeah. I think if he was on the [Toronto] Maple Leafs, he'd been in all different kind of conversations and stuff. I don't think he cares at all. He's a great player, and he's stepped up this whole playoffs. He's been our best player."

Hintz is known for his speed, but his two goals Thursday displayed his skills as a scorer.

His first goal showed off his quick release.

Defenseman Thomas Harley led the rush, entered the Seattle zone, cut back and sent a pass from right to left. Hintz had the puck on his stick for a split-second before firing a laser past goalie Philipp Grubauer to give Dallas a 2-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period.

"It was not even, like, a one-timer," Harley said. "He just grabbed it and shot it and beat the goalie. I think he's just dangerous, and he's just breaking the surface."

His second goal showed off his patience.

The Stars had let a 3-0 lead slip to 3-2 in the second period, and the Kraken were coming in the third, threatening to tie the game. Hintz entered the zone on the left wing, circled around the boards and threw the puck behind the net. As forward Jason Robertson battled for the puck, Hintz went to the net.

Robertson won a battle and chipped it out. Forward Joe Pavelski bumped the puck into the crease. Hintz could have tried to just jam it in. Instead, with one touch, he collected the puck on his forehand and pulled it back from the stick of Grubauer. Then he roofed it under the crossbar in the upper left corner to give Dallas a 4-2 lead at 11:20.

"He's got a good range of skills," Pavelski said. "He's done that all year. Obviously, it's a big moment, buys us that extra goal that we were looking for. Just a nice play."

Gorgeous.

"He has very high-end skill," Robertson said. "It's not the first time we've seen it, just today's game. We've seen it over the years, the amount of skill and the poise. He's scored 30-plus goals back-to-back years, so he's a goal-scorer too. He knows what to do in those situations, having that composure, that poise, and also having that quick release like that first one."

Seattle's strength is its depth. When forward Jared McCann scored Thursday, that gave the Kraken 18 goal-scorers in the playoffs.

Impressive.

But Dallas has one of the best top lines in the League with Hintz centering Robertson and Pavelski, and that line was outstanding Thursday. Pavelski had a goal and an assist, giving him nine points (seven goals, two assists) in just six games. Robertson had three assists, giving him 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 11 games.

Hintz is tied for the most points through two rounds in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history with Brian Bellows, who had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 1991.

Four times, he has produced three or more points in a game, tying for the most in a postseason in Stars/North Stars history with Bellows (1991), Dave Gagner (1991) and Steve Payne (1981).

"He's one of the most dynamic players in the whole league," Oettinger said, "so I would be scared if he's coming at me."