FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars reached their third consecutive Western Conference final despite starting the NHL playoffs without key defenseman Miro Heiskanen and leading scorer Jason Robertson.
Both players returned during the second round. Heiskanen rejoined the team midway through the six-game series against Winnipeg after being sidelined for 3 1/2 months with a left knee injury. Coach Pete DeBoer can now prepare for a Western final rematch against Edmonton with a roster nearing full strength, something he hasn`t had in a significant period.
“Well, first time since January we’ve had any kind of version of our full lineup,” DeBoer said Monday. “You never want to go into a fight with one arm tied behind your back. Really, the first two rounds, that’s what we had, and to our group’s credit, they found a way to grind through those series. But it’s nice not to have to be in that type of situation.”
Dallas will host Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday night. This comes a week after the Oilers concluded their second-round series against Vegas with a 1-0 overtime victory in Game 5.
Stars players had their second consecutive day off on Monday, a day they would have played Game 7 in Winnipeg if they hadn`t secured a 2-1 overtime win against the Jets on Saturday night to close out the series.
“We just went through two of the best teams in the league, so we`re comfortable and we’re getting, I feel, healthier and more up to speed with the guys that we put back in,” DeBoer said.
Robertson, 25, who like Heiskanen was a 2017 Stars draft pick, sustained a lower-body injury in the final regular-season game and missed the first-round series against Colorado. After scoring 35 goals and tallying 80 points while playing all 82 regular-season games for the third straight year, he recorded only one assist, eight shots on goal, and 19 total shot attempts in the six games against the Jets.
“He’s not a young, immature player anymore. He’s not looking for excuses or making excuses,” DeBoer said. “He’s looking in the mirror, looking for solutions. Been very coachable. So I see a world of maturity in him.”
Heiskanen required surgery after a significant hit from Vegas captain Mark Stone on January 28. The defenseman missed the final 32 regular-season games and the first 10 playoff games before returning for Game 4 against Winnipeg, where he registered an assist in a 3-1 win.
“Listen, he took the proper amount of time. He wasn’t rushed back, he didn’t rush back,” DeBoer said. “It took him a few games to get his timing, but I’m not surprised he’s back where he’s at right now.”
In his first game back, Heiskanen played nearly 15 minutes across 19 shifts. This increased to 18 1/2 minutes and 22 shifts in Game 5, and then over 23 1/2 minutes and 29 shifts in the series-clinching game.
Heiskanen mentioned feeling “pretty normal” after the Jets series, gaining more comfort with each period and game.
Since Heiskanen`s return, Dallas has primarily dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen, though they might revert to 12 forwards soon.
Regardless of the lineup structure, DeBoer described Heiskanen`s return to the defensive corps as “game-changing” for the Stars.
“All of a sudden you’re slotting guys, you’re playing them less minutes, they’re more effective, they’re playing in better matchup situations,” DeBoer said. “Adding a guy like that back into your lineup slots everybody back properly.”
This positive effect extends to players like Thomas Harley, who scored the overtime goal to win the series against the Jets. Harley received extended ice time during Heiskanen`s absence, averaging nearly 25 minutes per game compared to his usual 22 1/2 minutes, despite playing a similar number of shifts.
“We loaded this guy up, so I think he understands,” DeBoer said. “He’s a better, more effective player with a little bit less, and he also understands, of course, the importance of Miro back there for us to win.”
