The Dallas Stars saw a two-goal lead evaporate in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday. Dallas lost the game 5-2 as the Edmonton Oilers evened the series. The Stars may have also lost one of their key players after defenseman Chris Tanev left the game in the second period after blocking a shot off his right foot.
Tanev blocked three shots in total in his 8:37 of ice time. His status for Game 5 is up in the air but Stars head coach Peter DeBoer said the team has its “fingers crossed” that Tanev will be available.
Tanev has one point in 17 playoff games this year but his impact on the defensive end has been more than noticeable. He is a favorite among teammates and will surely be missed if he has to sit out of Game 5 or beyond.
“He’s one of the ultimate warriors in this league,” Stars captain Jamie Benn said, per Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. “It’s unbelievable to have him on our side now. I’ve played against him for a long time here. He’s a true professional. He plays the game hard.”
The Stars acquired Tanev from the Calgary Flames in a February trade. The veteran blueliner helped Dallas secure the top seed in the Western Conference and earned himself a nice paycheck in the near future as he's set to hit free agency after the season.
The injury shouldn’t hurt his chances of getting a hefty contract, but it could end his season and stint with the Stars.
WCF reaches best-of-3 scenario
The Stanley Cup Playoffs bring out the most exciting moments in hockey and having a conference final go down to the wire is right up there with the best moments. The Stars and Oilers have played a back and forth series through four games and made things a best-of-three series for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Stars have to put their Game 4 mishaps behind them and try to regain the series lead with another win at home on Friday. It starts with ending the Oilers' goal streak which sits at five unanswered after the Stars scored the first to goals of Game 4.
Dallas has home-ice advantage but is 4-5 at home this postseason. There are no guarantees in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, only heartbreak or jubilation. All the advantages in the world might not be enough for the Stars to reach the final.
The Stars and the Oilers are the last two teams to lose the Western Conference Final, with the team they fell to going on to win the Cup both years. Something has to give this time and one of these teams will be four wins away from the NHL's ultimate glory.
All eyes will be on a Chris Tanev update, but things don’t look promising at the moment. Hockey players are some tough dudes though and have played through torn ligaments, broken bones and the like.
Regardless, Game 5 will be a pivotal matchup in the Western Conference Final. The winner will take a firm grasp on the series.
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