Back-to-back presents new challenge for both Stars, Flames

Dallas enters another late-night tilt with momentum following a thrilling victory in Game 2

By Mike Heika

@MikeHeika Senior Staff Writer

August 14, 2020

Game 3: Stars vs. Flames (series tied 1-1)

9:30 p.m., Rogers Place

TV:FOX Sports Southwest, NBCSN

Radio:The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM

In this odd season, why not mix in a playoff back-to-back?

With the NHL trying to jam a ton of games into a small window, the Stars and Calgary Flames will play on back-to-back nights. Luckily, they didn't have to go to overtime on Thursday, but there still is a challenge of trying to ramp right up in a pretty big game.

"You have to park it," said Stars interim coach Rick Bowness. "It's the playoffs and there's a lot of momentum shifts. That's a good hockey club all over there. It's momentum shifts, and it's your ability to fight through those momentum shifts. You park it and realize that you still have a long way to go."

Stars winger Corey Perry said you just have to reset.

"Any back-to-back, they're tough," Perry said. "But at the same time, they're in the same boat, so it's going to be different. Third game of the day on that ice, late start. It's different, but at the same time it's playoff hockey. Whatever time the puck drops, it's game on."

Bowness on Stars' late goal to deliver Game 2 win

The Stars will play the third game of the day, so the ice could be chewed up pretty good. That could force some strategic changes in game plan for both teams.

"The challenge is equal for both hockey clubs," Bowness said. "One of the challenges we'll face tonight is we'll be the third game of the day on that ice, so the ice conditions are not going to be good. So a big challenge in terms of preparation will be being able to manage the game."

Calgary interim coach Geoff Ward said he feels his team gained momentum by fighting back to tie it 4-4 before the Stars scored the game-winner late. He's hoping that can help tonight.

"I think the important thing for us is that we were finally able to get our legs underneath us and make it a game. That's what it's about. ... We weren't as sharp as we needed to be early, but we're pleased with how we were able to come back and tie the hockey game. For a young team, that's a valuable lesson for us to learn."

And maybe that's the fun part of this. Yes, playing back-to-back game on rough ice is a challenge, but it also can be entertaining.

"From a fan's perspective, what an awesome time of the year," Ward said. "A 1-1 series now, two teams going hard. As a fan, you've got to appreciate it. It's great. Now, we have to put this in the rear-view mirror and get ready for (tonight)."

Gurianov gets 10 minutes of ice time in Game 2

Stars rookie Denis Gurianov led the team in scoring this season with 20 goals and already has a playoff goal and a shootout goal in the bubble, so he definitely has skill.

However, he played only 10:42 in Game 2, despite having five hits. Stars coach Rick Bowness said Gurianov looked nervous.

"That's how the game played out," Bowness said. "You've got to remember this is a young man who is playing in his first playoff series, and there were times last night that we could tell he was a little nervous. As a coach, you can he's not on tonight, he is a little nervous. We got him on the power play, we got him into the game. He was very energetic on the bench, his attitude was great. That's just more he's a young kid, he's feeling his way through his first playoff series."

CGY@DAL, Gm1: Pavelski deflects home Gurianov's shot

Bowness said the Stars had to kill a four-minute penalty and that kept Gurianov out of the game because he doesn't kill penalties. That absence also made it difficult to put him back in because of the flow of the game.

Bowness said he expects Gurianov will return to his regular minutes tonight. Gurianov is averaging 13:32 in the playoffs even with Thursday's game.

"He'll go right back out there tonight, we'll get him in the flow of the game again, and hopefully avoid those four minutes and stay out of the penalty box, so we can roll our four lines and keep him in the game," Bowness said.

By the numbers

18:59

That's the time on ice for Stars forward Radek Faksa in Game 2. That was the most he has played in the playoffs this year and his fifth most minutes on the season.

6

That was the amount of hits for Stars forward Tyler Seguin in Game 2.

3.50

That's the goals against average for Ben Bishop in his last five appearances dating back to February. He's 1-4-0 in that span with an .875 save percentage.

He said it

"They have some really good skating D men. It's our job as forwards to get on them and lay the body as much as we can. It's going to wear on them and you've got to continue to play physical, because they're good players. The more you can get on them, the more it's going to help us."

-- Flames forward Sam Bennett on the plan to hit the Stars defensemen as much as possible