DALLAS -- Chris Tanev is in the lineup for the Dallas Stars in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS).
The defenseman was a game-time decision, having left Game 4 on Wednesday after blocking a shot by Oilers forward Evander Kane off his right foot midway through the second period of Dallas’ 5-2 loss in Edmonton.
"I would call him game time. I'm optimistic," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Friday. "Huge part of our group. I think that's obvious. You look at our record since the [NHL] Trade Deadline with him (15-4-0 in regular season, 10-7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs) and all the underlying numbers, he affects all parts of the game."
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2.
Tanev has one assist in 17 playoff games this season. He’s also averaging 22:33 of ice time, fourth among the Stars behind fellow defensemen Miro Heiskanen (28:06), Esa Lindell (24:54) and Thomas Harley (23:58). He is second in the playoffs with 68 blocked shots, behind New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (71).
"I'm not too sure what he's doing or how it's going but obviously he's a big part of our team, plays a lot of minutes, hard minutes," Stars forward Jason Robertson said. "But it's those situations where every team's dealing with injuries or what not, guys coming in and out of the lineup and it's the next-man-up mentality. Whatever happens happens, but we have the character and the players in this room to fill any void for any position."
Tanev is a key piece for the Stars, who have depth at forward but not as much on defense. Alexander Petrovic has played five games in these playoffs, averaging 13:33 of ice time per game. Nils Lundkvist has played 12 games this postseason but is averaging 4:28 of ice time. Other defensemen currently on the roster are Derrick Pouliot and Lian Bichsel. Pouliot has played two playoff games, both in 2015-16 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Bichsel has yet to play an NHL game.
"As Petrovic has shown, you don't have to have played games," DeBoer said. "'Petro' didn't play a game all year, has come in and done a fantastic job for us. We'll consider all those things when we're looking at the group of guys that are an option."
On Thursday, DeBoer said defenseman Jani Hakanpää, who’s been out since March 16 with a lower-body injury, will not play in Game 5, "but you never know for the rest of the series."
The Stars acquired Tanev from the Calgary Flames on Feb. 28 in a three-team trade also involving the New Jersey Devils. He had 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 56 games with the Flames this season and five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 games with the Stars following the trade.
"He is known throughout the League as someone who is a tough guy," Petrovic said Friday. "He blocks a lot of shots, he's in a lot of battles and just that heart and soul, someone that pushes that on to everyone else in the room. Having a guy like that is huge. He's been a heart and soul guy for us since he got here and he will until the end.
"I think this team has battled against adversity all year. I think it’s the same game plan, the same mindset and whoever is out, then I think guys just pick up where they have to and share the load, and I think everyone has done a good job of that to this point."
NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report
