Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars announced Saturday they've signed defenseman Miro Heiskanen to an eight-year, $67.6 million contract extension.

Heiskanen is now linked to the Stars through the 2028-29 NHL season with an annual salary-cap hit of $8.45 million.

"It feels great to get this done," Heiskanen said. "Of course there is a lot of work to be done and we're very motivated to get back on the ice. It is very exciting to be a part of what [general manager] Jim [Nill] and his staff are building, and it's important to reward them for the trust they've shown with this long-term commitment."

The 21-year-old Finnish blueliner was selected by Dallas with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 draft, and he's quickly emerged as one of the league's most promising two-way defensemen.

He's recorded 95 points (28 goals and 67 assists) in 205 regular-season games. His relative Fenwick percentage is 3.8 points higher than his Stars teammates on average across his first three seasons, per Hockey Reference.

Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic projected Heiskanen will be worth 17.3 wins during the length of his new contract and provided a look at some recent comparables:

Miro Heiskanen is already one of the game's best defensive defencemen with plenty of offensive upside. He hasn't even hit his peak yet and should be well worth his new extension. pic.twitter.com/2qLmgdlatJ

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) July 17, 2021

Nill said the club was "excited" to announce the extension with one of the league's rising stars:

Since joining us, it has been clear that Miro is part of a collection of young, rising stars that are now playing in the National Hockey League. As an organization, we truly feel that Miro has just scratched the surface of his ability and will be in the Norris Trophy discussion for years to come. On behalf of [team owner] Tom Gagliardi, his family, and our organization, we want to thank Miro for his commitment to the team and we all look forward to watching him as he continues to evolve into one of the elite players of the game.

Heiskanen joins Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Esa Lindell and Radek Faksa as members of the Stars' core who are signed through at least 2024-25.

Dallas missed the playoffs by four points last season with a 23-19-14 record. The front office's offseason focus will likely be upgrading an offense that ranked 19th in goals per game (2.74). The Heiskanen-led defense was seventh in goals allowed per contest (2.60).

The Stars have an estimated $5.8 million in cap space, the league's third-lowest total, per CapFriendly. They could gain more flexibility via the Seattle Kraken exhibition draft Wednesday and via trades during the standard draft next Friday and Saturday.

Regardless, keeping Heiskanen for the long haul was a no-brainer despite the high cap hit. He'll be a strong Norris Trophy contender in the coming seasons, especially if Dallas improves as a whole.

Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness was cleared to rejoin the team Wednesday after registered a false-positive COVID-19 test.

According to ESPN, Bowness was pulled from the bench after the second period of Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes because of an apparent positive test. Stars general manager Jim Nill later said it was likely a false positive since Bowness was fully vaccinated.

That proved to be the case, meaning Bowness will be eligible to coach the Stars on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 66-year-old, the oldest head coach in the NHL, is in the midst of his second season as head coach of the Stars and 11th overall after previous stints with the Winnipeg Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes.

Last season, the Stars went 20-13-5 in 38 regular-season games and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

This season, the Stars are just 13-14-10, giving them 36 points through 37 games. The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, and Dallas is currently seven points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators in the Central Division with three games in hand.

It has been a trying season for the Stars, as they got off to a late start after 17 members of the team tested positive for COVID-19 during training camp.

Per ESPN, Nill noted that almost everyone who travels with the team currently is either vaccinated or has had COVID-19 already.

Every game is of the utmost importance this season since they are all against divisional opponents, but the upcoming stretch is especially big for the Stars since they have games in hand on some of the teams they are trailing and a chance to make up some ground.

It will start Thursday against Chicago, followed by back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday against the Florida Panthers and Predators.

The Dallas Stars announced head coach Rick Bowness was pulled from the bench for the third period of Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols.

Assistant coach John Stevens took over for the rest of the contest.

"Whoever is in our traveling party has been vaccinated," general manager Jim Nill said, per Saad Yousuf of The Athletic. "We're very comfortable" this is a false positive, he added.

Yousuf also reported goaltender Anton Khudobin was cleared to return to the team once it was determined his positive COVID-19 test was actually a false positive. He was cleared after testing negative multiple times.

Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported Bowness has been fully vaccinated and Khudobin contracted COVID-19 during the offseason prior to this false positive. Khudobin was the only Dallas player on the NHL's COVID protocol list, although 17 members of the team tested positive during training camp.

Elsewhere in the NHL, Kaplan noted more than half of the Vancouver Canucks roster recently tested positive.

The Stars fell to 13-13-10 with Sunday's loss. They are in sixth place in the Central Division.

The game between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars that was scheduled for Monday at American Airlines Center was postponed because of extreme weather conditions in Dallas.

The NHL announced the news, noting the weather has "caused significant power outages in the Dallas area" and that the decision to postpone was made "upon the advice of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson."

Dallas already defeated Nashville twice this season, one of which was a 7-0 blowout.

The two teams are playing in the Central Division in 2020-21 after rearrangements were made in an effort to limit travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stars have 14 points in 12 games, while the Predators have 12 points in 15 games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning lead the division with 21 points in 13 games.

As for the weather, Jesus Jimenez and Tom Steele of the Dallas Morning News reported temperatures in the area dropped to 4 degrees Monday and that wind chill would make it feel like minus-15 Tuesday. As a result, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was under a wind chill warning for the first time in its history.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard to help those in need across the state.

More snow is expected Tuesday, and many are without power in a state that is not accustomed to dealing with such winter weather.

The Stars and Predators are scheduled to play each other in Dallas on Tuesday, as well.

The NHL announced Tuesday that 17 players on the Dallas Stars tested positive for COVID-19 in the testing period between Dec. 30 and Jan. 11. 

Per the league's statement, "most" of the Stars who tested positive are asymptomatic and all of the Stars players are "currently recovering without complication."

The NHL also announced Tuesday that 27 players in total around the league had tested positive for the coronavirus in its most recent testing period. 

With training camps concluded, the NHL season is set to begin Wednesday, kicking off with the Philadelphia Flyers facing the Pittsburgh Penguins at 5:30 p.m. ET.

In a statement last week, the NHL said the Stars are not expected to begin their season until Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the earliest. 

The NHL's plan is to host a 56-game schedule for teams, separating the league into four divisions: East, West, Central and North divisions. Teams will only play other divisional teams this season. 

The league's coronavirus protocols are also strict. Per Sean Leahy of NBC Sports, the NHL is requiring "no player carpools, no roommates on the road and no group outings to restaurants or bars. The NHL will require to reserve two extra hotel rooms for away games in case someone tests positive. Once games begin, the NHL will reveal players who test positive. Coaches must wear masks on the bench."

"As far as the surroundings, it's definitely much different," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby told reporters regarding the league's safety protocols. "Making sure you have masks and are socially distancing. There's a lot of rules, a lot of regulations and a lot of things that we have to be aware of here just making sure everyone stays safe and healthy."

The Dallas Stars announced Friday that six players and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

The following statement has been released by the NHL. pic.twitter.com/aJcwSMX03k

— X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 8, 2021

The team noted that those who tested positive are self-isolating and following protocols. The Stars also announced that they likely won't play their first game of the 2020-21 season until Jan. 19 at the earliest.

Dallas had been scheduled to face the Florida Panthers on Jan. 14 and 15 and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 17. With all of those games likely to be postponed, the Stars are now in line to open their season Jan. 19 on the road in a Stanley Cup Final rematch with the Lightning.

The Stars are coming off one of the best seasons in team history, as they thrived in the NHL bubble last season and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Bolts.

Expectations are high for the Stars because of that run, although they will be without two key players when the season opens, as top forward Tyler Seguin and starting goalie Ben Bishop are both dealing with injuries.

Seguin is on the shelf after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, while Bishop continues to deal with a knee injury that kept him out for much of last season' playoffs.

Now, the Stars are facing even more adversity with multiple COVID-19 cases, and the NHL is dealing with its first major hurdle of the 2020-21 campaign.

On the heels of last season getting interrupted by COVID-19 and then finished in a bubble in Canada, the NHL is holding a 56-game season in 2020-21 with altered divisions for one season only.

Since there is no bubble, the NHL put all Canadian teams in the same division to remain in compliance with Canada's strict travel restrictions amid COVID-19.

The Stars will play in the Central Division, which features a mix of Eastern and Western Conference teams in the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Lightning.

It is unclear when and how the NHL intends to have the Stars make up for the three games that may get postponed, but it could create a difficult situation given how tightly packed the condensed schedule already is.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin is considering surgery after suffering a torn labrum in his hip during the 2019-20 NHL playoffs.

According to Stars general manager Jim Nill, the surgery would require four months of recovery.

Seguin, who led the team with 50 points during the 2019-20 regular season, registered two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 26 playoff games, as the Stars advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

While Seguin was still an important player for the Stars during the postseason, he was clearly overtaken by several other players as the go-to scorers on the team.

He tied with Roope Hintz for seventh on the team in playoff scoring behind defensemen Miro Heiskanen and John Klingberg, as well as forwards Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn, Alexander Radulov and Denis Gurianov.

It is fair to wonder if the hip injury Seguin suffered during the playoffs played a role in sapping some of his effectiveness and preventing him from playing his usual explosive style.

The 28-year-old veteran is a six-time All-Star who has been one of the faces of the franchise in Dallas for the past seven seasons since acquiring him from the Boston Bruins.

Seguin has been nearly a point-per-game player during his Stars tenure, with 223 goals and 291 assists for 514 points in 538 regular-season games.

When taking his three seasons in Boston into account, Seguin has 279 goals and 356 assists for 635 points to his credit in 741 games.

Entering the 2019-20 season, which was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seguin had posted at least 72 points in six consecutive seasons, making him one of the NHL's most consistent players during that time.

Seguin set a career high with 84 points in 2013-14, but he was essentially just as good during the two seasons preceding 2019-20. He scored a career-high 40 goals in 2017-18 and followed that up with 80 points in 2018-19.

It is clear that Seguin can still be a big-time point producer when healthy, but in order to get him back to that level, surgery may be needed.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said this week that the NHL is hoping to start the 2020-21 season on Jan. 1, meaning Seguin would likely miss at least the first month of the season if he undergoes surgery.

While that would be far from an ideal scenario for the Stars, having a healthy Seguin for the second half of the season and the playoffs would likely be a worthwhile tradeoff.

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final belongs to the Dallas Stars.

The Western Conference champions defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, on Saturday night as the series opened up inside the NHL bubble at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. 

It's the first victory for the Stars in the Stanley Cup Final since Game 5 against the New Jersey Devils in 2000. That year, Dallas would fail to defend its NHL title and has struggled to return to the league's biggest stage since. 

The Bolts are playing without their captain, elite scorer Steven Stamkos, who continues to rehab a lower body injury suffered in early July. Tampa Bay is optimistic he'll be able to make his 2020 postseason debut during the Final. 

After defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders in the first three rounds, the Lightning face a significant challenge against a Stars team that improbably eliminated the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights en route to a Western Conference title. 

Notable Performers

Anton Khudobin, G, Dallas Stars: 35 Saves, 1 Goal Allowed

Jamie Oleksiak, D, Dallas Stars: 1 Goal, 6 Hits, 5 Blocks

Esa Lindell, D, Dallas Stars: 1 Assist, 3 Hits, 4 Blocks

Yanni Gourde, C, Tampa Bay Lightning: 1 Goal, 2 SOG, 2 Blocks

6'7", 255lb @jamieoleksiak with his 5th goal of these #StanleyCup Playoffs! 👏

🇺🇸: https://t.co/UfgC6MEihV @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/ujaIEh4p5C @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/8ReMybYTgg

— NHL (@NHL) September 20, 2020

Joel Hanley's Historic Goal

When defenseman Joel Hanley scored the opening goal of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, it was the Dallas Stars' first goal in the Cup Final in 20 years. 

It was Hanley's first goal ever. 

Joel Hanley coming up huge for the @DallasStars right off the bat! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: https://t.co/UfgC6MEihV @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/ujaIEh4p5C @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/9jcGP0Epjg

— NHL (@NHL) September 19, 2020

Through 46 games in the NHL across five seasons, Hanley had come up empty. An extremely physical shift in just his eighth playoff contest helped change that. 

Barely five minutes into the first period, the Stars forecheck went to work in the Tampa Bay zone with Joel Kiviranta finishing a hard check on the Bolts' Brayden Point. It was a particularly strong hit on Point, who has been battling injuries this postseason, and sent the puck flying around the boards. Tampa's Luke Schenn went after it only to get laid out by Dallas' Alexander Radulov. 

The two hits opened up space for Hanley in the low slot where he buried a feed from winger Roope Hintz.

Detroit's Bruce MacGregor was the last person to score their first career goal in the Cup Final during Game 4 in 1961. 

The good news is the Red Wings won that game, the bad news is they would go onto lose the series to the Chicago Black Hawks. As long as the Stars continue to play like they did on Saturday, Dallas won't have to worry about the latter outcome. 

Joel Kiviranta sure knows how to Finnish... 😏 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: https://t.co/UfgC6MEihV @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/ujaIEh4p5C @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/PN5uBY0af0

— NHL (@NHL) September 20, 2020

Tampa Bay Offense Goes Quiet 

During the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Islanders, the Bolts appeared to get any shot they wanted at any time. 

One game into the Cup Final, it's clear the same won't be true with Dallas. 

The Lightning's high-octane offense was silenced by the Stars despite a fast-paced game that seemingly favored Tampa Bay. Equally as concerning was the lack of discipline shown by the Bolts early on. 

DOBBY!!! #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: https://t.co/1CzQWtSVdF @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/fBj6Hikm84 @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/JH1VGnMBbv

— NHL (@NHL) September 20, 2020

That combination cannot continue if Tampa is going to take control of the series. 

The Lightning went nearly nine minutes between shots on goal in the first period and finished the frame with just four shots on net total—just the 12th period this season where Tampa had four shots or less. 

Through two periods the Stars led the shot battle 18-14 before switching to a defensive style after going up 3-1 late in the third. Dallas was outshot 22-2 in the final period, but it hardly mattered as goalie Anton Khudobin turned everything aside except for a puck that bounced through traffic and off his skate in the first period for the Lightning's lone goal.

You gotta do what you gotta do. The @TBLightning even things up. #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: https://t.co/tUjkwiBenQ @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/V0n6js29E5 @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/sdnjCPDRJ9

— NHL (@NHL) September 20, 2020

The Bolts finished with 16 penalty minutes—including a 10-minute misconduct from Patrick Maroon for shooting the puck into the Dallas bench—and wasted three power play attempts on the night. 

That will need to change as soon as possible for the Lightning to get back into the series. 

    

What's Next

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final is scheduled for Monday, September 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. 

The Dallas Stars are in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history following a 3-2 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in the Western Conference Final.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The @DallasStars are off to the #StanleyCup Final‼️ pic.twitter.com/BWs9V1w2py

— NHL (@NHL) September 15, 2020

Dallas' last conference title came in 2000. The Stars were unable to successfully repeat their Stanley Cup triumph from the year before, falling to the New Jersey Devils in the Final in six games.

Jamie Benn provided the Stars with some life after they fell into a 2-0 hole, scoring their first goal with 9:54 off the clock in the third period. Joel Kiviranta equalized on the power play at the 16:13 mark to force overtime.

NO QUIT IN THE DALLAS STARS!

The EQUALIZER late in Period 3. #GoStars pic.twitter.com/2jns1fyNBM

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) September 15, 2020

Zach Whitecloud received a delay-of-game penalty after hitting the puck over the glass 2:15 into overtime. With the Stars on the power play, Denis Gurianov fired a shot past Robin Lehner.

THE DALLAS STARS ARE HEADED TO THE #StanleyCup FINAL!#GoStars | @DallasStars pic.twitter.com/scMY3uf70r

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) September 15, 2020

              

Notable Performers

Anton Khudobin, G, Stars: 34 saves

Denis Gurianov, RW, Stars: one goal, one assist

John Klingberg, D, Stars: two assists

Robin Lehner, G, Golden Knights: 23 saves

Reilly Smith, RW, Golden Knights: one goal

         

Stars Come to Life in 3rd Period

Defense has been Dallas' calling card all season. The Stars were second in goals against per game (2.52) during the regular season, though that number had climbed to 3.10 through 20 postseason games. The series has seen a return to form as Dallas allowed six goals in four games.

For the bulk of Monday's game, the Stars were leaning far too much on their defense and failing to build anything in the attack.

Of course, the complexion of the game would have looked very different if the deflection from Lehner's save on a shot by Gurianov had been a few inches lower in the second period.

All our homies hate the crossbar pic.twitter.com/mnlGD1z8fK

— X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) September 15, 2020

To Dallas' credit, the team didn't panic after Reilly Smith's goal. Quite the opposite, that was the wake-up call the Stars needed.

Jamie BENN does it AGAIN!#GoStars cut the lead to ONE. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/IjMfBnSoPG

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) September 15, 2020

They can thank Anton Khudobin for keeping the score close as well.

Anton Khudobin already off to a 🔥 start. #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/elMYr7AYlQ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 15, 2020

As bad as the #Stars power play has been, their penalty kill, behind some more great work from Anton Khudobin, and solid work in front of him, has been equally good.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) September 15, 2020

Of note, Stars goalie Anton Khudobin has 33 saves. He is 7-0 in his last seven games when he gets 30 or more saves.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) September 15, 2020

Once the game went to overtime, it was only going to end one way. The last thing you want to do against the Stars right now is fail to put them away in regulation.

           

Vegas Falters at Inopportune Time

Soccer managers who advocate a possession-based approach often do so by arguing keeping the ball away from the opposition ensures they can't score. In effect, it becomes a defensive strategy.

Through two periods, the Golden Knights were following that blueprint to a T. They were controlling the tempo of the game and stymying the Stars by limiting the number of shots they could fire at Lehner.

Then the third period—which started so brightly—happened. The air slowly went out of Vegas' balloon even after they built a two-goal lead 15 seconds into the period through Smith.

#VegasBorn start period 3️⃣ with a 💥!#StanleyCup | @GoldenKnights

📺: NBCSN
💻: https://t.co/J9dypHWuQE pic.twitter.com/fIhloScq0i

— NBC Sports Hockey (@NBCSportsHockey) September 15, 2020

Rather than putting Dallas to the sword, the Golden Knights took their foot off the gas.

Knights had done a really good job of controlling possession and limiting the Stars' chances until right before that Benn goal.

They had to know Dallas would make a push with a trip to the SCF on the line. Now they have to hang on.

— Ben Gotz (@BenSGotz) September 15, 2020

We hear about this Knights team and how they can roll 4 lines and wear teams down. But I saw a tired and nearly defeated team in those final 10 minutes and it wasn’t Dallas

— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) September 15, 2020

There's no good way to lose an elimination game in the conference final. Head coach Peter DeBoer will be left wondering how everything unraveled for Vegas in the third period.

        

What's Next?

The Stars await the winner of the Eastern Conference Final, where the Tampa Bay Lightning have a 3-1 lead over the New York Islanders. The Lightning can close out the series Tuesday.

The Dallas Stars are three games away from the Stanley Cup Final.

Thanks to a stalwart performance from goalie Anton Khudobin and John Klingberg's first-period goal, the Stars beat the Vegas Golden Knights 1-0 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday night in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

When @johnklingberg rips it, good things happen. #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: https://t.co/UfgC6MEihV @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: https://t.co/ujaIEh4p5C @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/PYfhJWnyo8

— NHL (@NHL) September 7, 2020

The teams finished even in shots (25 apiece), nearly identical in hits (49-47 advantage to Dallas) and tight in blocked shots (18-15 in favor of Vegas). Very little separated them, setting up what looks to be yet another even, drawn-out series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

                              

Key Stats

Anton Khudobin, DAL: 25 saves on 25 shots

Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK: 24 saves on 25 shots

John Klingberg, DAL: One goal

William Carrier, VGK: Six hits

Jamie Benn, DAL: One assist

Reilly Smith, VGK: Three shots

Radek Faksa, DAL: One assist

                  

Anton Khudobin and the Dallas Defense Stymied Vegas

Stifling the Golden Knights is no small feat, but Khudobin and the blueliners in front of them were more than up to the task.

For Khudobin, it was a career night, as he posted his first playoff shutout. He had a rocky series against the Colorado Avalanche, giving up three or more goals six times in the series.

Anton Khudobin made 25 saves as the @DallasStars took a 1-0 decision from Vegas in Game 1 tonight.

It was Khudobin's first shutout in a postseason game since the 2009 #CalderCup Playoffs with Houston.#AHLGrads pic.twitter.com/EhnTKMaa7u

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) September 7, 2020

Nathan MacKinnon and Colorado gave him all he could handle. It's an excellent sign for Dallas that he started the Western Conference Final in pristine form and that the defense in front of him made life incredibly difficult for Vegas.

                    

Golden Knights Need More from Mark Stone and the Team's Top Players

The Golden Knights generally swarm an opposing team's net, peppering in shots. But Dallas did a fantastic job of generally containing players like Reilly Smith, Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.

It's unlikely they'll be fully contained across a full seven-game series, but it was also unlikely they'd be shut out at all. It was just the second time since the NHL restart that the Golden Knights have been held goalless.

last 7 #Vegasborn games:
Mark Stone & William Karlsson 1 goal each
Reilly Smith & Jonathan Marchessault 0 goals

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) September 7, 2020

Mark Stone and William Karlsson each had only one shot attempt tonight

— Justin Emerson (@J15Emerson) September 7, 2020

The concern, of course, is that the Golden Knights have been held scoreless in two of their past three games and have just four goals in their last four contests. The offense came alive against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7. It's time for players like Stone and his top-line counterparts to get it going again.

                 

What's Next?

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.