Benn returns to the lineup for Game 6

The Stars are coming off a convincing win in Game 5 and have now won two straight games against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The team is getting captain Jamie Benn back after a two-game suspension.

And they are going home for Game 6 on Monday at American Airlines Center.

Maybe this "backs-to-the-wall" stuff is sparking something remarkable for Dallas.

"We put ourselves in a really tough spot, and to get to the point where we're at now, it just shows you the type of character that we have in our room and the belief that we have, even being down 3-0, that this series was far from over," Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said after a 4-2 win in Las Vegas Saturday. "We've done our job up to this point."

In doing so, the Stars have convinced themselves that this historic comeback is possible, and they also might have put some doubt into the minds of the Golden Knights. It took an overtime win in Game 4, but Dallas was solid in Game 5. Vegas jumped out to 1-0 and 2-1 leads, but the Stars answered quickly each time. The score was tied 2-2 going into the third period, and Dallas came up with two big goals from Ty Dellandrea and a strong overall play from the entire team.

It gives everyone a lot of belief.

"There is a belief in this room that we can beat anyone on any given night," forward Max Domi said. "That being said, you have to come ready to play and do all of the things we talk about. Even though we've done that the last couple of games, we've just got to keep that narrow mindset, shift by shift, period by period, and game by game. I know it's real cliché, but that's what we have to do."

Head coach Pete DeBoer said the clichés exist because they are real. What the Stars have accomplished in the past two games has happened in large part because they didn't get overwhelmed by the task and were able to play each game individually. The Stars got down in both games and rallied back every time. They didn't buckle, they maintained focus, and that's not the easiest to do when your season could end that same night.

"I don't know if you're ever comfortable knowing after seven months of work and almost 100 games, you could be done," DeBoer said. "I don't know if you ever get comfortable, but our group definitely has confidence in that situation."

The drive to bring Benn back has been an interesting side story. The captain was suspended two games for a cross-check to the neck of Mark Stone, and players said they didn't want his season to end that way.

"Our whole thought process was we win two games and we get him back," center Luke Glendening said. "We didn't want his season to end that way, we wanted to give him the chance to play again."

The message was clear to DeBoer.

"What it tells you is what Jamie Benn means to them," DeBoer said. "That's a direct reflection of what that guy means to the dressing room."

It's part of the fabric of the team. Thomas Harley wore a Jake Oettinger T-short at his media availability on Sunday. Oettinger's little brother wears a Ty Dellandrea jersey to games, and the two players were clearly excited for each other in the wake of Game 5.

"We're all very close to each other, we spend a lot of time with each other," Harley said. "We want to win for each other, and I think that's a big reason we're having the success that we do."

Of course, that kind of emotion could bring an overabundance of energy to Game 6. Nonetheless, the team must still be able to maintain the right balance between intensity and focus.

"Sometimes with human nature, there is a tendency to take a breath now, because Jamie is back and we've gotten through that adversity, and you can't do that," DeBoer said. "Now that we can see the finish line, we've got to make sure we take care of business and give ourselves a chance to cross it."

Glendening brought up an interesting point, and it's one that outsiders don't really see. Every off-season brings a bunch of changes, including a roster change, which means this particular group won't ever be together again. Everything ends so quickly when the season is over. Everyone goes their separate ways and all you have left are memories.

Dallas played its 100th game on Saturday (82 in the regular season and 18 in the playoffs) and set a ton of personal bests in a truly transformative season. This team has six potential unrestricted free agents, including Glendening, which underscores even more how important it was to get Benn back and embrace the chemistry that has been built this year.

"I think for a lot of us, it's just keeping this group together for one more day," Glendening said of the drive to stay alive. "You just keep doing that every single day and that's all you can do."

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

Video: Dellandrea and Oettinger on playing with desperation is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika