The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild square off in a heavyweight first-round playoff series as the second and third seeds in the Central Division. They are also the second and third seeds in the Western Conference and sit third and seventh overall in the NHL standings.

Let’s keep this casual on the morning of Game 1 with some final thoughts, fun storylines, and predictions from the DLLS Stars crew.

First up, the obvious elephant in the room: physicality.

Dallas, under new coach Glen Gulutzan, has adapted a newfound edge in its game.

Under Pete DeBoer, they were structured. They rolled four lines. Their special teams were excellent. They were a very good team and one that was hard to beat… At least until the final four of the playoffs began. DeBoer liked his teams to get up and go, play the right way — which usually meant one way (his way) — and utilize their speed. But, at times, that structure became too rigid, leaving Dallas stuck in the mud or banging its head against a wall when teams found ways to stop its primary goals.

Even more obvious, though, was the fact that DeBoer’s style of play and beliefs left plenty to be desired when things got heated.

Sure, they had some fights from Jamie Benn or some big hits by Lian Bichsel along the way. But, when the intensity really cranked up, especially between the whistles, DeBoer’s Stars always seemed to take a back seat, pacifist-type approach. DeBoer believed that their “tough guy” was their elite power play. If teams wanted to run around and headhunt, the Stars would let them, and then beat them on the scoreboard when they got the extra man.

It worked, at times. Take the 2023 playoff series against these same Minnesota Wild as a perfect example.

But it also didn’t work at other times. Like when Darnell Nurse AND Evan Bouchard each slashed the crap out of Roope Hintz’s foot in the Western Conference Final last year. No Stars skater did anything about either; Edmonton realized they could get away with that type of stuff, and they pushed Dallas around, eventually eliminating them rather easily in five games.

That’s not this Stars team. This Stars team sticks up for each other.

When someone takes a cheap shot or even a big clean hit, they have to answer to one, two, or even four other players wearing Victory Green. If opponents want to bump Jake Oettinger or even get too close to his crease, they will be met with a headlock from Bichsel or Benn. It’s been a 180-degree swing that has become apparent when watching this team play. It’s not only entertaining, but it’s how you instill a level of intimidation and prove you won’t be pushed around like Dallas teams of the past.

It’s also how you win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“It’s our building, and guys aren’t going to come in here and push us around,” Gulutzan said.

But, here’s the best part… It’s not just those main guys who do it.

Justin Hryckowian has become one of their most consistent fighters. Colin Blackwell attacked Neal Pionk for a cheap hit on Jason Robertson while Benn and Adam Lowry squared off at center ice. Thomas Harley has shown some feistiness. Adam Erne has thrown his weight around plenty. And to take it even one step further, the best or most skilled players on the team have bought in, too. That means we have seen these types of moments from Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Mavrik Bourque, and Miro Heiskanen.

Heck, even Jason Robertson has surprised some opponents with a heavy forecheck or lethal reversal hit in the corner. And they have not liked that very much.

“Yeah, you’re going to have to,” Gulutzan said when asked about superstars getting involved in the physicality and still making plays. “And every superstar is going to get into that as we go forward. 
So, we’re no exception. But I did like a lot of our responses from our guys and our team toughness, for sure.”

But here’s the biggest key to all of this: You have to find the right balance.

In 2023, Minnesota took the full-on Dean Evason approach of trying to bully Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. There were points at which it worked. There were some massive hits, including Matt Dumba injuring Joe Pavelski. But when it came down to the overall theme, it was mostly the Wild taking stupid penalties, and the Stars burning them with power-play goals.

Dallas won the series in six games. And that was a huge part of the result.

This time around, while Minnesota still wants to impose its will, it will at least try to be more composed and avoid crossing the line. Dallas, while a different team that now wants to also dominate the physical game, will need to find that same balance. Both power plays are elite. The Stars rank 2nd at 228.6 percent, and Minnesota sits right behind them in 3rd at 25.2 percent.

If you take dumb penalties in this series, it will come back to bite you eventually.

But Gulutzan believes he has his team prepared to walk that line effectively. That’s why he instilled this “one degree” from the start. He believes that if it becomes part of your team’s DNA, you will not only know the appropriate balance, but you also won’t get carried away or sucked too far into the emotion of an intense playoff game.

“That’s why it needed to be in the fabric of our jersey while we were playing, so that you’re not reactionary to these types of games,” Gulutzan said on Friday ahead of Game 1. “It has to become a part of what you do, so when you do get into these situations, you’re not making mistakes trying to be overly physical. I think we’ve done a good job of that.”

The extra one degree that Gulutzan asked for from day one isn’t just about throwing hits and standing up for teammates, either.

It’s going a bit harder to the opponent’s net. It’s about being a bit harder to play against in the corners, in front of your own goalie, and especially in puck battles. To put it simply: it’s all about compete level. And that has shown through 82 games for this Dallas team as well.

Now, when everything gets a lot more physical and a lot tighter in all areas of the ice, that compete level could be the difference between advancing out of the first round and heading home early.

Personally, I can’t wait to see how the Gulutzan effect translates into playoff hockey.

Fun storylines

• Jason Robertson was not selected to play for Team USA at the Olympics despite another excellent season. Wild GM Bill Guerin was the head honcho of that eventual Gold Medal-winning team. Does Robertson have even more to prove, not only to Guerin but also to many who think he gets too quiet after Game 82? Can this new and improved Robertson battle just a bit more to have a bigger impact on playoff games?
• Jake Oettinger hails from Lakeville, Minnesota. He grew up watching the Wild. He also grew up hearing all about Dallas stealing their hockey team back in 1993. Oettinger loves to be the villain in visiting arenas. It’s part of what made him so good as a college hockey goalie for BU. He’s also especially dominated the Wild in his career, going 9-1-4 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He went 4-2 against them in the 2023 playoffs, including a ridiculous .960 save percentage over his best four games.
• Speaking of 1993, Minnesota still hasn’t gotten over Norm Green moving their beloved North Stars to Dallas. They went on to win a Stanley Cup, and it took until 2000 for hockey to return to the literal state of hockey. Those fans who were around, or their children who have heard nothing but hatred and horror stories about the boys from Big D, would love some revenge. They would also love to just get out of the first round for the first time since 2015.
• Minnesota is going with rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt in Game 1. Filip Gustavsson has been their guy, but Wallstedt was also great this year and was easily the better goalie down the stretch. Will the moment be too much for the rookie?
• Miro Heiskanen is expected to play in Game 1 after missing the final three games with a lower-body injury he sustained the last time these teams met. If he plays, it’s a huge boost for Dallas. But how close to 100 percent will he be? How much will the heavy Minnesota forecheck affect his game either way?
• Roope Hintz is out for at least Games 1 and 2, but it sounds like it could even be more. After maybe the most consistent season of his career, Hintz is once again injured at the worst time. Can he get back during this series? Will Wyatt Johnston and Matt Duchene be able to pick up the slack at center?
• How will young players like Nils Lundkvist, Mavrik Bourque, and Justin Hryckowian handle their first real playoff experience? Bourque has dressed in four playoff games, but played very little. Same story for Lundkvist, but in 12 games. And it will be the first taste for Hryckowian, the rookie who has quickly become a fan favorite. Can they have a real impact at this time of the year?
• Will the calm demeanor of Glen Gulutzan shine through? While Pete DeBoer was undoubtedly an excellent coach. He could lose his cool sometimes. Not sure if y’all knew that or not… Can Gulutzan keep calm when things get crazy or aren’t going their way? Can that calmness translate to the team and allow them to respond rather than drift away into the offseason?

Playoffs are here. Let’s enjoy the ride.

Predictions

Luds: Stars in 6

Owen: Stars in 7

Ryan: Stars in 6

Sam: Wild in 6