The American Airlines Center has a full plate of playoff games this weekend. Both the Stars and Mavericks host four important games in their respective series. The Flames/Stars series is off to a weird start after only two total goals with goalies in net. This is now a best-of-5 series as the Stars pulled off an unbelievable defensive win in Game 2. Leaving Calgary with a 1-1 series tie is a fantastic outcome considering they got shutout 1-0 in Game 1. Now this series heats up heading to Dallas. Jake Oettinger is a brick wall between the pipes who can carry the Stars to victory. This physical and defensive series goes to the AAC for two games.
Weird Start
The Stars went north of 127:00 without scoring a playoff goal. Their last goal before the Game 2-winner came in Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. The Flames shut them out 1-0 in Game 1. The Stars got the shutout in Game 2 2-0. Both teams are equal in goals when goalies are in the net as the Stars scored an empty-netter. There are only three goals so far in this series with one being on the empty net. This is an unusual start to a series but that is how the Stars like to play.
Klingberg Steams the Flames
Things got choppy after Game 1 when Stars defenseman John Klingberg made comments to the media. Klingberg took a shot at Rasmus Andersson after both got ejected during a scrum. Matthew Tkachuk went after Klingberg in Game 2. Flames fans booed the Stars defenseman every time he touched the puck. This is already a physical series with 125 total hits that will heat up as it progresses.
Stars are Doing More Than Holding on
Home-ice advantage can be the difference-maker in a playoff series. The Stars took it back with a road win. Flames fans saw lots of wins this year at home with a 25-9-7 record at Scotiabank Saddledome. Holding the Flames’ offense to one goal is astounding. The Stars are now coming home to a surely raucous American Airlines Center. The series knotted at 1-1 is an indication that they can hold on against a powerhouse team such as Calgary.
Otter Slams the Door Shut
Saying Oettinger played like an elite goaltender in Calgary is an understatement. Wow is a great way to describe his play in the series so far. Oettinger only allowed one goal to such a potent offense in 120 minutes. If he keeps it up then he is a problem for not only the Flames but other playoff teams. His only allowed goal came on the powerplay in the first period of Game 1. He has shut out the Flames since then.
Games 3 and 4
Going back to Calgary up 3-1 in the series is every Stars fan’s dream. There is a long journey for that to happen. Expect the AAC to roar for these next two games.
Games 3 and 4 are crucial in this series. The Stars can’t lose both of them and expect to come back down 3-1. They stole home-ice advantage away from the Flames. If this series goes to seven games then the Stars play at home in three of them. The battle between these two teams gets hotter as the series gets older. Game 3 is on Saturday while Game 4 is on Monday in Dallas.
Photo Credit: Dallas Stars Twitter
