Stars look to convert confidence into consistency in Game 5

When attempting to put the Stars' confident Game 4 win into words, there are several options on the table.

We could hone in on the Stars finding their legs after a flat Game 3 effort, much like a star athlete does after an injury. Or we could run with an angle on the Stars' depth attacking like an army in waves. We could even follow Jake Oettinger turning into a mighty wall after losses, as he has done so often this season.

But sometimes, simplicity is key. Miro Heiskanen put it best.

"Pretty good," the Stars defenseman said following the win.

The answer was in response to how he felt in his first action since taking a puck to the face in Game 3. Heiskanen didn't miss a beat, posting an assist and 3 shots in 31:02 of ice time while wearing a face shield.

But it also fits nicely when describing the Stars' victorious effort.

Pretty good.

Sitting in a 2-1 hole on the road for the second consecutive series, the Stars dug in their heels and prepared for a frenetic Game 4 in enemy territory. And, as has become a tradition of sorts this season, they once again worked their way out of a bind.

Following a lackluster showing in Game 3 that turned into one of the worst playoff losses in Dallas Stars history, the team used a determined and responsible effort to flip the script and take control.

"We were better everywhere than we were the game before, and I think that was the goal," Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said. "When we're playing well, that's what we look like. We're not giving up much and putting pressure on the other team."

48 hours after surrendering 7 goals (including the first 4) in Game 3, Dallas leaned back into its defensive structure. They allowed just 8 shots on goal in the first 30 minutes and built a 4-goal lead.

The Stars applied consistent pressure for 60 minutes, limiting the Kraken to 19 shots (the 3rd fewest by any team in this year's playoffs) and never allowed them within a goal.

The end result was a lopsided 6-3 win. With Seattle having built their entire attack on depth, the Stars found a way to give them a taste of their own medicine behind 5 different goal scorers.

Jamie Benn ended an 8-game goal drought and opened the scoring on the power play. Thomas Harley had his first playoff goal and multi-point playoff game. Joe Pavelski reached 70 career playoff goals and 16 game-winners. And Max Domi had his second 3-point game of the series with two goals and an assist.

"I think we know we didn't play our best game [on Sunday]," Domi said. "This team doesn't have two bad games in a row, and we showed that tonight. From top to bottom, we had everyone going."

He's got a point. The Stars are one of four teams yet to lose consecutive games in this year's playoffs. In games following a loss, they are 4-0 and outscoring the opponent 20-10. Simply put, when the going gets tough, this team gets going.

It's starting to sound like a broken record, but that's a good thing. A similar story was scripted in the First Round against the Minnesota Wild.

After losing two of the first three games and allowing 11 goals, the Stars churned out three straight wins while outscoring the Wild 11-3. Their defensive attack was stout, Jake Oettinger found another level, the power play ran rampant, and the depth scoring made an impact. Most of all, they played a smart and stifling brand of hockey.

The Stars took a similarly positive step forward on Tuesday night. They re-committed to their defensive identity, scored early and often, and had a complete buy-in up and down the lineup.

It's been a proven winning recipe for the Stars in this year's playoffs. And as they settle into what's now become a best-of-three, it will be all the more important to stick to their script.

Even with Jani Hakanpää (lower body) and Ty Dellandrea (illness) both missing from the lineup, the Stars didn't flinch. And when Mason Marchment left the game early after taking an elbow to the head, nothing changed. The Stars found ways to adapt and manage their absences.

"There's a lot of stuff going that we could've used as an excuse and we didn't," DeBoer said. "Really proud of the group."

And so, the Stars will once again return home with an opportunity to take their first series lead. The challenge now becomes turning resilience into consistency.

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