With the Second Round tied at 2-2, 'it's all in for both teams'

It's more than 2,000 miles from Dallas to Seattle. The flight usually takes about four hours, depending on weather. It can be a factor in a best-of-seven series, especially when teams are now flying every other day.

As the Stars and the Kraken get ready for Game 5 on Thursday at American Airlines Center, a good deal has been revealed in a 2-2 series. All of which will be pondered as the two squads battle over who will advance to the Western Conference Final.

"It's all in for both teams," said Stars forward Tyler Seguin. "There's blood in the water for either side."

The series has been a roller coaster ride so far. Seattle won Game 1 in overtime, 5-4, and Dallas bounced back with a solid 4-2 win in Game 2. The Kraken then won a wild Game 3, 7-2, and Dallas answered with a 6-3 win in Game 4. Both teams have dealt with injuries and pulled goalies, and now they are in a good place heading into a mini best-of-three series. Dallas has discovered the balance of Seattle, who has had 16 different goal scorers during the playoffs.

"They're a deep team, a lot of things we expected," Seguin said. "You see why they beat Colorado. At first, it's hard to believe it, but Seattle is the real deal. Their depth is incredible, they work hard, and they play a system that they have all bought into."

The Stars, meanwhile, have shown how they put up a 108-point season and finished second in the Central Division. Dallas in Game 4 adjusted to a few injuries and found a way to get goals from Max Domi (2), Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, Thomas Harley and Roope Hintz. The balance was exactly what the Stars needed and was a positive sign after some line shuffling from head coach Pete DeBoer.

The top line of Pavelski, Hintz and Jason Robertson was reunited and picked up right where it left off in the regular season.

"They always do," DeBoer said of the top line. "I think Jason Robertson had his most promising game of the playoffs or in a while anyway, from an offensive point of view. I don't think that's an accident. They have a chemistry that is real."

Pavelski, who was knocked out of the First Round series against Minnesota with a concussion, and then returned to play the first three games against Seattle on a line with Domi and Mason Marchment, said the chemistry of the top line came back easily.

"It's a good feeling. You don't take it for granted," Pavelski said. "You have a certain level that we believe we can play at, and you want to come out and be prepared, win battles, get in with good support, make plays. It's definitely something where when you get the puck, you're able to move it and go from there."

Marchment missed much of Game 4 and is a game-time decision for Game 5. Ty Dellandrea and Jani Hakanpää missed all of Game 4, but either could be back for Game 5. All three skated in the morning.

Joel Kiviranta stepped in for Dellandrea and Joel Hanley stepped in for Hakanpää. Both played well, DeBoer said.

"Both of those guys were great in the first round against Minnesota, Kiviranta and Hanley," the coach said. "Both were really tough decisions going out and both came in and were excellent and did what they had to do. Every time you're making those calls, you're making tough calls, and those guys have made it tough."

And that's part of the dance this time of year. Decisions are made on the fly, and everyone has to adjust.

"It's good they all went for a skate here this morning," DeBoer said. "We'll reconvene and make some calls."

Key Numbers

39-27

Road teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs are 39-27 this year. Dallas is 3-2 at home. Seattle is 4-2 on the road.

162-95

Seattle has a 162-95 advantage in hits for the first four games of the series. The Kraken had a 41-24 edge in Game 4.

39

Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak leads the playoffs with 39 blocked shots.

He said it

"He's doing a lot of good things. He's getting a lot of good looks. That's No. 1. He's finding space out there. It'll start going in. I'm not worried about that. The biggest thing is the confidence level, work for the next one. It's coming."

• Pavelski on the play of Robertson, who has struggled at 5-on-5. Pavelski was reunited with the top line in Game 4.

Expected lineup

Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Dadonov
Kiviranta-Domi-Seguin
Dellandrea-Faksa-Glendening

Suter-Heiskanen
Lindell-Hakanpää
Harley-Miller

Oettinger
Wedgewood

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

Video: Tyler Seguin talks about Domi's patience is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter Video: Tyler Seguin talks about Domi's patience