One step at a time, Stars must get back to 'different level' in Game 4

There are so many questions bouncing around in the heads of the Dallas Stars right now, and the answer to each might be to keep it simple.
The Stars are trying to negotiate an NHL that almost looks like the NBA, with hot streaks by each team within a game.
They are trying to manage a lineup that has seen slumps by their best players and has also seen injuries to key players.
And they are entering the rare playoff back-to-back, with games Friday and Saturday -- which could tax the goaltending in a big way.
So what's the answer? One step at a time.

"We're worried about tomorrow. Saturday will take care of itself," Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said after his team lost a 5-2 game on Wednesday to get behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. "We're going to do everything we can to win that game tomorrow. We do not want to fall down 3-1, so Saturday is the least of our concerns."

It makes sense, right? So does a certain amount of patience with the top players, who have hit a wall and are getting badly outplayed in the series so far. Dallas has received huge performances from depth players like Joel Kiviranta, Jamie Oleksiak and Denis Gurianov, and Bowness said that has helped get the team to the Stanley Cup Final. That makes questions about slumps for Alexander Radulov, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin a little easier to handle.
"We're here because of a committee, because of team play. It hasn't been focused on one line or one guy," Bowness said. "Do we need more from the top guys? Every team does. So we're hoping that's coming, but until it does and if it does, then we're going to keep battling and we're going to stay in games and give ourselves a good chance to win based on team play and everyone contributing at different times. That's why we're here."
And as for those runs that favored the Stars in previous series but have dried up in more recent games? Well, they too have a way of coming back.
But the thing about all of this is the Stars have to make it happen.
They won Game 1 because they were on their toes, they were sharp in their details, and they were opportunistic when chances presented themselves. They lost Game 3 because they made too many mistakes, handed too much momentum to the Lightning, and simply didn't play to their potential.
Dallas got down 2-0 early on Wednesday because of mistakes by defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell. They then battled back and had the better of play but were only able to get one goal against Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

"In the first period, we were creating a lot of chances and sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the goalie. He made some great saves," said Bowness. "In terms of stopping the runs against us, we just made it too easy. That's an elite team, make it hard, don't give them anything."
The runs for the Stars have been key. They often will string together two or three goals in five or six minutes, and that's broken the will of the opposition on a few occasions. On Wednesday, it was the Stars' will that was broken when Tampa Bay tallied three goals in the second period.
Pavelski said the Stars have to be better at slowing down the opposition.
"When they're going against you, it's up to the guys to really take a deep breath and turn it back. Have a forecheck shift and get some O-zone time," he said.
That's a good lesson for the team following the Game 3 loss.
"Right now, get our game back, get it back for long stretches," Pavelski said. "At times, we have chased the game, so get back to better details on our part. There's a different level to this Stars team."

And that happens one shift at a time. Both Radulov and Gurianov appear ready to play after suffering bumps and bruises in Game 3. Blake Comeau is a game-time decision after missing Game 3 with an injury. Will Comeau play or will rookie Nick Caamano stay in? Will Bowness break up the top line or let them work their way out of it? Will Anton Khudobin bounce back from allowing five goals against?
"We need to play better in front of him," Bowness said when asked about his scrappy netminder. "He's been solid, he's been consistent, he's been doing everything you want your starting goaltender to do to give you a chance to win. He just has to keep doing what he's been doing. And in terms of our team, it would help him a lot if we didn't make it so easy for the other team to play against us sometimes."
That happens one step at a time. Make simple, smart plays, and commit to the moment.
Yes, there is a Game 5 on Saturday, but it doesn't help you to think about that on Friday.
"There's one game on our mind and that's the next one," Pavelski said. "It's a key moment in the series -- 2-2 looks way better than 3-1. After that, we can figure a way to recover and get back.
"We're not looking too far ahead."

Game 4: Stars vs. Lightning (Tampa Bay leads 2-1)

Friday, 7 p.m. CT
Where:Rogers Place, Edmonton
TV:NBC, Ch. 5
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.