Fueled by an unwavering swagger, Stars advance to second round after wild Game 6 win over Flames

In the aftermath of the Stars season — whenever it ends, it will not be this week — they will be remembered for their unwavering cockiness in the face of adversity, an enviable trait that means this Dallas team howls at the idea of three-goal deficits, a listless start to the season, an abrupt coaching change, uninspiring round robin games earlier this month.

In charging past the Flames with seven unanswered goals during a 7-3 romp in Game 6 on Thursday night, the Stars eliminated Calgary in the first round and set up a second-round date with the Avalanche. They won a playoff series in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1997-01.

They did it the only way this Stars team would do it: the hard way, by throwing it in the grill of hardship and playing so well that a poor stretch is forgotten, replaced by memories of exalt and victory.

They did it with their best player (Miro Heiskanen) posting a four-point night, and they did it with their leading goal-scorer (Denis Gurianov) submitting a historic four-goal, one-assist performance. They did it with Anton Khudobin stopping the final 32 shots he faced.

Entering Game 6 on Thursday, the Stars knew they were the better team in their series against the Flames. Calgary had won two games by surviving on a skimpy diet consisting of Cam Talbot’s play and fortuitous shorthanded goals. By taking a 3-2 series lead on the Flames, the Stars forced a thinned Flames squad running on the fumes of Talbot’s Game 3 performance to win twice.

In the first 6:34 of the first period, it appeared like Game 7 on Saturday was imminent — the NHL even announced that the game time would be 7 p.m. and be broadcast on NBC, if necessary. The Flames staked themselves to a 3-0 lead with three goals in a span of less than three minutes.

Before the Stars even registered a shot on goal, the Flames punctured Anton Khudobin thrice. Calgary owned the game’s first eight shots. The Flames were the team that needed a victory to extend their season, and forced the Stars to regroup early with a timeout by Rick Bowness.

“The mood wasn’t good,” Joe Pavelski said. “We hadn’t played our game yet. It was one of those moments where I think everyone understood he haven’t played our game, we’re seeing their best game and pucks are exploding off our sticks at that moment. We’re in a hole. It was a good timeout as far as catch our breath, let’s try to get back to our game.”

Bowness added: “It was just a mess to start. There comes a point where ‘Okay, that’s enough. We need the next goal. We get the next goal, we’re back in the game.’ Fortunately, that’s what happened. It takes a special player like Miro to step up and ‘Okay, we need a goal? I’m going to step up here and show up.’”

Then the goals began — first as a trickle, then as a wave, finally as a tsunami.

Heiskanen started with a power-play goal that stemmed Calgary’s momentum in the first. Gurianov scored in the first minute of the second period, and again less than three minutes later to chase Talbot to the bench. Radek Faksa gave the Stars the lead with a power-play goal. Joe Pavelski tucked a rebound. Gurianov finished the second period with goal off the rush, and then tormented the Flames once more in the third period with a rebound goal.

The scoring summary for Dallas looked like the ending credits of the Flames season: “Eliminated Embarrassingly,” starring Heiskanen, Gurianov and Pavelski, directed by Bowness and produced by Jim Nill.

The Stars punctuated a topsy-turvy series with a turbulent game, demoralizing the Flames into a potential dismantling and rebuild over the offseason after another playoff collapse. Calgary probably felt that it could have won Game 2 (Jamie Oleksiak’s last minute winner) and Game 4 (Pavelski’s tying goal with 11.9 seconds left, and Alexander Radulov’s winner in overtime). The Stars likely felt they should have ended the series two days prior in five games.

Thursday’s second period drummed up memories of the marathon season now in its 12th month.

Remember the frustration after yet another loss in Pittsburgh back in October? Remember the 3-0 deficit against Minnesota in October, when the Stars’ season teetered between epic failure and road to redemption? Remember the mid-season coaching change? Remember the hollow performances in Florida? Remember the Winter Classic? The comeback in Montreal? The sick coach in St. Louis? The four-month stretch of being the best team in the world? The two weeks in March when they were the worst?

Add Game 6 to the lore of the 2019-20 Stars, suppliers of unshaken confidence.

“There were some crazy moments throughout the year,” Pavelski said. “You just move on and you play.”

Thanks to Thursday’s wild win, the Stars will do both: move on and play.

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