First Shift: Stars open playoff run filled with potential against Golden Knights

You can get a lot of opinions out of the Stars dressing room when it comes to the Vegas Golden Knights.

For some, like Radek Faksa, meeting the team that knocked Dallas out of the Western Conference Finals last season is a chance for revenge.

For others, like Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski, it’s just the team standing in the path of advancing.

“It’s just another playoff series and we’re excited to get going here,” Benn said Sunday. “Obviously, they’re a good team, defending champs, pretty solid from top to bottom, and it’ll be a great series.”

The truth, of course, probably lies somewhere in the middle. After all, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and his top assistant Steve Spott used to coach the Golden Knights and were fired two years ago. What’s more, Benn was suspended two games for cross-checking Vegas captain Mark Stone in the playoffs last season. Vegas also won the first two games in overtime before taking the series in six games and then crushing Florida in the Stanley Cup Final.

“I don’t think you make a big deal about it, but you also don’t dismiss it,” DeBoer said. “It’s the team that ended your season and the team that went on to win the Stanley Cup, which was our goal last year. It’s not all encompassing, but it’s definitely there and you don’t ignore that.”

The series is unusual for a lot of reasons. The Stars took the defeat last season, readjusted their lineup and became the best team in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights battled fatigue and injury and snuck in as the final wild card team. That said, they are not your typical No. 8 seed.

“They’re a dangerous team,” forward Matt Duchene said. “They’re a team that’s going to have almost a brand-new roster coming into the playoffs, so hopefully they’re not quite clicking. But at the same time, even if they are, we’re going to be ready for their best. I know they’re ready for us.”

Vegas has several players who have been injured for long stretches this season. Among the group is Alex Pietrangelo (18 games missed), Jack Eichel (19 games missed), Mark Stone (26 games missed) and William Carrier (43 games missed). So there is some question as to who might play and who might not, but DeBoer joked that he has a pretty good idea.

“I think we all know who’s in the lineup, don’t we?” DeBoer said with a laugh on Sunday. “I’m assuming they’re all in. I think that’s the assumption. Good. Let’s go. Drop the puck.”

And that is the beauty of the playoffs. As good as the Stars were down the stretch (17-4-0 in the final 21 games), it’s a clean slate going into Game 1. Yes, Dallas has home ice advantage, but Vegas won all the three meetings between the two teams this year. Yes, the Stars have better numbers on the season, but Vegas has a playoff pedigree and appears to have the potential to play worlds better than they did in the regular season.

“The difference is that they haven’t had their team, right?” DeBoer said. “So, it’s hard to look at their recent results and say, ‘This is what you’re getting.’ I can only speak for our group. We’ve had our group together. They’ve been on the ice together. They’ve played together down the stretch. We’ve been playing some great hockey. I’m excited about how we translate that to the playoffs.”

And bottom line, that’s what matters most to the Stars. They made a lot of adjustments in the offseason. They added defenseman Chris Tanev at the trade deadline. They called up rookie Logan Stankoven to add even more scoring depth. They have done everything they can to be ready for a postseason full of potential.

“We’ve played a lot of good hockey,” Pavelski said. “The details have been really good and that was the talk down the stretch – start preparing, start playing the way we want to play, start executing -  and I think guys did that pretty well.”

Key Numbers

98
Dallas scored 98 goals in third periods this season, ranking sixth in the league. Vegas allowed 100 goals in third periods, ranking 25th.

14.7
Dallas ranks second in the NHL in shots that miss the net at 14.7 per game. Vegas ranks 28th at 12.4.

2.99
Vegas has taken the fewest penalties per 60 minutes of any team in the league at 2.99. The Golden Knights have also been shorthanded fewer than any other team at 213.

He Said It

“It does mess a little with your day. It messes probably more with your next day. By the time you get out of the rink, decompress, the players cool down, eat, it’s tough enough to sleep after a big game. Then you throw overtime in. The biggest effect is usually on the next day.”

- Stars coach Pete DeBoer on the fact the Stars get a lot of start times close to 9 p.m. in the playoffs because of their Central Time Zone location.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.