'Another level': Benn's resurgence not going unnoticed by Stars

Jamie Benn didn't have the best regular season, numbers-wise.
The man who won the league scoring title with 89 points in 2016 was limited to 39 points in 69 games this year. But with a goal on Saturday, Benn now has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 20 playoff games.
The team's captain is playing inspirational hockey, interim coach Rick Bowness said, and it's noticeable.

"He's playing the best hockey I've seen him play in the two years that I've been in Dallas," said Bowness, who came to the Stars after being an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. "He's the Jamie Benn I remember coaching against when we were in Tampa."
Bowness added that while Benn has lifted his game, and that the points have come as a reward, he still has been doing little things well all season. The coach said Benn was a huge reason the Stars finished as a top four team in the West and didn't have to go through the play-in round. And even now, he's doing similar things.
In a 2-1 win on Saturday, Benn won 8-of-12 faceoffs while standing in for the injured Radek Faksa and Roope Hintz.

"He's just laying it all on the line," Bowness said. He's doing what you want your captain to do."
Benn has downplayed any focus on himself and has said on several occasions that he is simply doing what he can do to help his team win. When asked if being one win away from the Stanley Cup Final was personally important, he said: "No. We're staying in the moment as a group and taking it one game at a time."
Still, his performance is impressing his teammates.
"His game, his leadership has just gone up another level in the playoffs, from what I've seen," center Joe Pavelski said. "What I like about him, he's been very direct. When he has the puck, you have an idea of where it's going. He's been shooting it, he wants it and you can see that. That's something that this time of year, that's what's productive. There's not a lot of guessing what you're going to do or hope plays out there. He's been very direct and hard and that's good to see."
And good to follow.
"It's great to see him get rewarded," Bowness said. "Everybody is noticing the goals, the points, but man everything he does to help us win, everything he does in the locker room, everything he does in practice and on the bench during games, we notice that. It's nice to see him get rewarded with points, but the recognition should be for everything he does to help us get here and to keep us here."

Cogliano returns and plays well

Stars forward Andrew Cogliano was hurt in Game 6 of the Colorado series and missed Game 7 with an injury. Joel Kiviranta came in and scored a hat trick in Game 7, and that meant Cogliano was a healthy scratch for the first three games of the Vegas series.
However, Faksa missed Game 4 with an injury, and Cogliano stepped in, playing 12:31 and contributing an assist.
Bowness said he was impressed with how Cogliano handled the scratches and how well he was ready to contribute when called upon.

"Cogs is a true pro," Bowness said. "He cares so much, and he prepares himself so well that he gives you everything he can every day. He got banged up in Game 6 and he understood the scratch, and then all of the sudden Kivi steps in and gets a hat trick. But that's being a true pro and true teammate, accepting that and not complaining and then working hard and being ready to go."
With Faksa still a question mark for Game 5 and with Roope Hintz injured in Game 4, Cogliano could stay in the lineup.
"He knew he was next man up and he got the opportunity and played a very solid game for us," Bowness said.

Nill would like Bowness to return as coach

Bowness was named interim head coach in December, and both he and general manager Jim Nill have said they will wait until the season is over to make a decision on whether Bowness becomes full-time head coach next season.
Nill was interviewed on Sportsnet Saturday, and said he hopes Bowness decides to become full-time head coach.
"We talked when he took the job over. We said, 'You know what? Let's get us through the regular season. Let's get through the playoffs, and we're going to sit down and talk,'" Nill told the Canadian sports network. "But he's earned it, and I hope that down the road he wants to be the head coach."

Game 5: Stars vs. Golden Knights (Dallas leads 3-1)

Monday, 7 p.m. CT
Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton
TV:NBCSN
Radio:The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.