Jason Robertson, for example, has one assist in four games while averaging 18:03. Robertson, who averaged more than a point a game during the regular season, was moved off the top line with Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz. We shall see if he's reunited with that group in Game 5.
Denis Gurianov played sparingly in the third period after he was benched for making a mistake on an attempted clear that helped Calgary set up camp in the Stars' end of the ice. He might receive a healthy scratch in Game 5 in favor of Jacob Peterson.
Stars coach Rick Bowness said there would be lineup changes, but he wouldn't say what. Bottom line, the key to making the team play better is to first get the individuals playing better.
"I think they're feeling it, so you have to help them through it," Bowness said of the younger players. "An older guy, you can challenge harder with your tone and your words. But when you're dealing with younger players and you can see that they're sensitive, you've just got to handle it carefully."
Robertson said he understands he could be playing better, and he understands that this level of intensity is going to be tougher to reach.
"It's playoffs, I knew it was going to be harder," he said. "I'm still trying to find spots and get shots, but I've got to do more for myself."
Robertson was moved off the top line and Joel Kiviranta took his place. Gurianov could be a healthy scratch. There's a lot going on, but the players also have to fix their problems individually.
"It's your first run," Pavelski said of Robertson. "We have a lot of confidence in Robo. He's a kid who's smart and good with the puck and should have confidence to be playing at this time of the year. He's a big part of this team."
Robertson said he embraces that responsibility.
"It's going to be a lot tighter, and it's playoffs," Robertson said. "All I can do now is re-watch what I did and have my teammates help support me and the coaches tell me what to do better."
Pavelski said he remembers fighting through slumps at times in his career and said that process sticks with him even now.
"You go through a little slump or a low-scoring series and things get looked at certain ways," he said of the pressure. "At the end of the day, it's all about wins, so you have to find a way to help you team. You just keep working and you try to get through it. The intensity you have to get to right from Game 1 to the end of a series to have success, that can't be understated."
He added that while he can try to help his teammates, the process is something each player works through.
"If there's certain things I see that you need help with, definitely we'll say a couple of things," Pavelski said. "But sometimes you've got to figure it out on your own. Everything's been said for the most part, along the way, out there before, and at the end of the day you have go out there and figure a way to get it done."
Bowness said he understands that process. He's coached a long time and he's seen different players figure out different solutions. He said it's something everyone is trying to figure out.
"We need to get some balance," he said of scoring seven goals in four games. "We've been fighting with it all year. But now that we get down to the nitty gritty of the whole thing, it's just raises the importance of getting more scoring."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.
