'This is why you play hockey': Stars excited to get playoffs started

CALGARY, Alberta --On the eve of Game 1 of their first round series against the Calgary Flames, the Stars got in a brisk 40-minute practice at Scotiabank Saddledome. It was a full team practice, as key veterans Vladislav Namestnikov and John Klingberg joined the team on the ice.

Both missed practice on Sunday in Frisco, Texas, recovering from lower-body injuries. Unless something changes from now until game time on Tuesday, both should be in the lineup, according to Stars coach Rick Bowness.

These are exciting times. Ask anyone on the Stars what it means to be back in the playoffs, and they'll give you the same answer.
"This is why you play hockey," Klingberg said. "You grind through 82 games to get here. This is great."
"It's going to be awesome," said Jake Oettinger, who's about to embark on his first real playoff run. "This is what we work for all year. These are the types of games you want to play in."

Sure, the Stars are considered the underdogs given their place in the regular season standings (first wild card) and needing the 81st game to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Calgary, meanwhile, finished atop the Pacific and had three players with 40 or more goals (Johnny Gaudreau, Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm).
That isn't deterring the Stars' mentality heading into the series.
"I really feel like our team is built for the playoffs," Klingberg said. "There's a lot of expectations on our team, but the most expectations come from within our team, the players, coaches and staff. Yeah, maybe we're underdogs, but we know what we can do. We have to go out there and show it."

Klingberg's no stranger to postseason hockey. He ranks sixth in franchise history among defensemen in playoff games played (52), tied for fifth in assists (27) and ranks sixth in points (34). Of his seven career postseason goals, four are game winners including a series-clinching tally in overtime of Game 6 of the 2019 first round against Nashville.
Though Bowness didn't show his hand regarding the starting goalie for Game 1, it's likely Oettinger gets the nod.
The 23-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season and isn't necessarily a newcomer to Stanley Cup Playoff hockey. Oettinger made his first two career NHL appearances during the 2020 postseason, including Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final when he became the first netminder in more than 82 years to appear in a SCF game with zero career regular-season appearances (the last player before him was Paul Goodman in Game 2 of 1938 SCF with Chicago).
"I have to focus on what I'm doing," said Oettinger. "I'm just going to focus on what makes me successful and go from there. I can't wait to get this series going."

Game 1 of this best-of-seven series begins Tuesday at Scotiabank Saddledome at 9 p.m. CT on Bally Sports Southwest and ESPN 2.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.