Although the Dallas Stars have faced overwhelming odds throughout these Stanley Cup Playoffs, they are somehow only two wins away from competing for their second championship in franchise history. Resilience is propelling head coach Pete DeBoer and his squad forward amid incessant adversity.
Dallas won a war of attrition versus the Vegas Golden Knights after losing home ice advantage early and overpowered the usually relentless Colorado Avalanche after again dropping the series opener. The Stars then fell agonizingly short in a double-overtime heartbreaker against the Oilers to begin the Western Conference Finals. Until now, they have admirably erased all deficits and sidestepped every landmine.
“What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.” That famous quote and song refrain perfectly describes this group. Though, a main reason for Dallas' endless and successful resolve is its sturdy defensive attack. The continued strength of that Blue Line could rest on the injury status of Chris Tanev, however.
The 34-year-old exited the Stars' 5-2 loss in Game 4 after blocking a shot off his foot in the second period. DeBoer induced a fair amount of agita across the fandom when he uttered the words, “cross your fingers,” to describe Tanev's chances of playing Friday. The latest update paints a much prettier picture.
The veteran defenseman is a game-time decision. “I'm optimistic,” DeBoer said, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Tanev left Edmonton in a walking boot on Thursday, per DailyDallasHockey, so this news is certainly encouraging.
He still has several hours to get right before the puck drops at 8:30 p.m. ET, and with his toughness and durability, that just might be enough for Chris Tanev to suit up for a pivotal Game 5 battle. If he is not up for it, though, Pete DeBoer has a contingency plan in place. A surprising one, at that.
Stars ready to turn to their youngster if need be
While defense is a strength for Dallas, depth is not. The potential absence of Tanev forces the rest of the unit to step up and log more time on ice, which can be especially taxing when going against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton offense. DeBoer seems to believe that such a challenge demands a unique gambit.
“Lian Bichsel says he’s been told to be ready to play if Tanev can’t go,” Sean Shapiro reported on X. The 2022 first-round pick could be set to make one of the wildest and most stressful debuts in NHL history.
Dallas clearly values his 6-foot-6 frame and sees him as a possible matchup problem for the Oilers, but this is unorthodox, to say the least. A week and a half after celebrating his 20th birthday, Bichsel may possibly skate in what many consider to be the most crucial game in a playoff series.
All he and Stars fans can do now is wait for a final decision on Chris Tanev and be prepared for anything.
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