While the Stars’ forward group is dealing with more injuries early in the playoffs, its defense has had the shorter bench in the first three games of the series against Vegas.
The Stars have rolled five defensemen for most of the series, switching pairings throughout. Defenseman Nils Lundkvist has been used sparingly, including just 2:21 of ice time in Saturday’s Game 3.
The Swedish defenseman played just five shifts all night and didn’t see the ice after the 3:52 mark of the second period.
Saturday’s usage is just the latest chapter in what has been a challenging season for the 23-year-old, who has been scratched regularly or benched in close games.
With Jani Hakanpää now in his seventh week out of the lineup due to injury, the Stars haven’t had many other choices but keeping Lundkvist in — unless they were to swap him out for Derrick Pouliot, who spent most of the season in the AHL . Hakanpää did not travel with the team to Vegas for Games 3 and 4 and has not participated in any team skates since March 16, so it seems like he is still a ways away from his return.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer has been tight-lipped about Lundkvist’s usage all year and said he has no issue with the five-defensemen plan against Vegas at the moment.
“It’s not a concern this time of the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “I think we’re fresh. All those guys are used to playing minutes. If we’re still having these sessions a month from now, we might be. But we’re day-to-day right now.”
The other five defensemen — Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley, Esa Lindell, Chris Tanev and Ryan Suter — are all averaging at least 18:59 of ice time in the playoffs compared to just 6:38 for Lundkvist. Heiskanen played a whopping 34:09 during the 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 with Harley and Tanev both passing 30 minutes as well.
Defensive depth contributed to Dallas’ downfall in the Western Conference Finals last year, especially as Vegas had arguably the best blue line depth in the league. It has only added to that this year.
“I don’t think anyone can compete with Vegas’ defense depth-wise,” DeBoer said earlier in the series. “That’s pretty special.”
That became clear when Nicolas Hague missed Games 2 and 3 with an injury and Alec Martinez was easily able to slide into his role. Martinez wasn’t even the only option, as Vegas has 11 defensemen on the roster currently. The Stars have eight.
The Stars were able to narrow the series gap with a hard-fought overtime win using just five defensemen and will seek to even the series Monday night with that same approach. But if they are able to take control of the series in the coming days, they may have to chance their strategy or hope Hakanpää is close to returning because it doesn’t appear Lundkvist’s usage will be increasing anytime soon.
Monday’s TV/Radio listings (April 29)
In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Dallas Stars learn what it takes to beat Vegas
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Tags: Stars fivedefensemen approach sustainable series Vegas
