Fifteen games into a playoff run, it’s easy for the veteran players to start running out of gas.
Many players are dealing with some sort of injury, and ahead of this latest break before the Western Conference finals, the Stars had played 13 games in 26 days.
But through the first two games of the Edmonton series, many of the Stars’ more veteran players are not showing their age and have become the team’s top contributors to help tie the series at 1-1 before they hit the road.
In the 3-1 Game 2 win Saturday night, Dallas’ veteran players were all over the scoresheet. Jamie Benn, 34, had a goal and an assist. Ryan Suter, 39, had the primary assist in the form of a shot from the point on Mason Marchment’s game-winning goal. Esa Lindell, 30, had the empty-net goal to secure the win for the Stars.
“We’re just trying to do our part for this team,” Benn said.
That performance came just two days after Tyler Seguin, 32, scored two goals in Game 1 to send the game to double-overtime.
The recent production from Dallas’ more experienced players shows another level to the team’s depth that has carried it throughout the regular season and playoff run. Not only have the Stars had 16 different players score in the playoffs, but those players have ranged from 20 years old to 39.
In the Colorado series, the two youngest players on the team — Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven — were able to have multi-goal games to carry their teams to victory. A week later, Benn now rides a three-game points streak.
“All year, someone different has stepped up. I think that’s the benefit of our team. Pete [DeBoer] trusts everybody, so we were all working for it,” Suter said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the wins. No one really cares. No one looks at the scoresheet after the game.”
But there’s some pride the Stars can take in knowing the contributions they’re getting from their oldest players. Suter has played the most NHL games without winning a Stanley Cup. Joe Pavelski ranks third in that category. Among players still in the playoffs, Dallas has six of the top eight players with the most playoff games played but no Stanley Cup.
These players have waited a long time to hoist the #StanleyCup.
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) May 22, 2024
Will any of these waits come to an end this year? pic.twitter.com/0ybF8CZ77r
As the Stars sit just three wins away from the Stanley Cup Final, they know their veterans aren’t just along for the ride. They’re playing key roles in crafting the team’s road.
“Those guys are laying it on the line every night for us,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “They’re not just producing. They’re committed to do whatever they have to do to try to help us win.”
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