Benn and the Stars again fall short of a Stanley Cup shot after 3rd West final in a row
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars have done what no other team has over the past three decades in reaching three conference finals in a row.
They failed to win a Stanley Cup during their run, though. They didn't even give themselves the opportunity to play for one.
'Three years in a row now, you get that close and you come up short ... obviously not a good feeling,' said Jamie Benn, the nearly 36-year-old captain who is about to be an unrestricted free agent after 16 seasons in Dallas.
For the third season in a row, and the second against Edmonton, the Stars ended with a loss in the Western Conference final. They lost 6-3 in Game 5 at home Thursday night.
'Every year you learn new things. This is not the end goal for us,' said Wyatt Johnston, who at 22 has already been to three West finals. 'You need to go through the conference final. ... Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. I think you always want to learn, and I think that's good that you can learn from it, but we want to win.'
Edmonton advanced to a Stanley Cup rematch against Florida, the reigning champion in its third consecutive final series.
Before Dallas and Florida this year, three other teams made three consecutive conference finals under the current playoff format adopted in 1994. Los Angeles and Chicago won two Stanley Cup titles during their runs, and Detroit won once. Tampa Bay made three Stanley Cup Finals in a row from 2020-22, winning the first two — the Lightning were awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy as the East champ in 2021, when there were no conference-based playoffs because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As deep as the Stars have gone in each of coach Pete DeBoer's three seasons, they haven't been able to get to that final round.
This was the fourth West final in six seasons for the Stars, who in the Canadian bubble in the pandemic-impacted 2020 playoffs eliminated DeBoer-coached Vegas in five games. Dallas then lost in six games to Tampa Bay.
'You've got to keep knocking on the door,' DeBoer said. 'It's a really, really hard league to win in. When you get down to the end, to the final four here, it gets exponentially tougher. ... We chased every single game in this series, and that's a tough way to play hockey against that team."
The Stars gave up the first goal in 15 of their 18 playoffs games, and struggled to score most of the postseason.
Dallas was third in the NHL during the regular season with 3.35 goals per game and shut out only once, in the 79th of 82 games. The Stars averaged 2.5 goals in the playoffs with four shutout losses, including both losses in the second-round series they won in six games over top seed Winnipeg.
A scoreless streak of 178:57 on the road, against Winnipeg and Edmonton, was the longest in Dallas playoff history. The Stars had two goals over the next three games after a five-goal outburst in the third period for a 6-3 win in Game 1 against the Oilers.
'I think we played two good rounds and then they made it hard on us,' Mikko Rantanen said. 'Maybe just give credit to them. They defended really well.'
Rantanen, the trade deadline acquisition who then signed a $96 million, eight-year contract extension, led Dallas with nine goals and 22 playoff points. But all the goals came in a six-game stretch before finishing with an eight-game drought.
Veteran forwards Benn and Matt Duchene each had only one goal this postseason. Jason Robertson scored twice Thursday, to finish with four in 11 games after missing the start of the playoffs with a lower-body injury.
Stars general manager Jim Nill has said Benn has earned the right to continue to be a part of the team as long as he wants. This was the end of the captain's $76 million, eight-year contract extension.
Asked in the locker room Thursday night if he had any thoughts about his future, Benn softly responded, 'No.'
When asked if he still wanted to be with the Stars, and if he felt good about the chances of that happening, he answered yes to both.
Hall of Fame center Mike Modano is the only player in franchise history with more than Benn's 1,192 regular-season games, 399 goals and 956 points. He has played in 120 postseason games.
'He's our captain, he's our leader. He's a guy that we follow every day,' Johnston said. "Just such an important part of our team on the ice, off the ice, and just an amazing person.'
NHL playoffs: /hub/stanley-cup and /hub/nhl
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder players to watch vs Indiana Pacers
The Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to host the first game of the NBA Finals in their hometown on Thursday (June 5). The team will be playing against the Indiana Pacers for the title in what's proved to be an interesting but welcome lead-up to a compelling season. This matchup marks the sixth consecutive season where the NBA does not have a repeat finalist from either the Eastern or Western Conference. Moreover, this is the first time that two mid-scale teams are facing off against each other for the title. All eyes are set on the key players among the Thunder to bring home the cup and laurels for the first time since 1979. Named as league MVP and Western Conference finals MVP this year, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is no easy name to tackle. The point guard is known for his ability to glide quickly and smartly through the paint to get to the free-throw line and deliver tough finishes. With an average of 29.8 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 steals while shooting 47.1% from the field, Alexander is a score-first player in contrast to his Pacers counterpart, Tyrese Haliburton. He secured decisive wins in the five games played against the Minnesota Timberwolves to gain a decisive footing in the West. Only the first match against Haliburton will reveal how well he stands up to the underdog team of this series. Jalen Williams gave a challenge to the Timberwolves in every match he played, but struggled to be an offensive threat against the Denver Nuggets during the second round. Although the burden to stabilize things can be left up to Chet Holmgren, Williams still needs to be consistent to deliver optimal performance. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are the hidden key to the Thunder's offensive and defensive success. In most situations, the Thunder tend to rely solely on their top two to three players to secure a win. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Cason Wallace are tasked with providing backcourt depth to the Thunder during play. Although they have a decisive edge when it comes to rotation, the fact that even their ninth guy is better than the Pacers' seventh or eighth player does not always translate into a definitive advantage on the floor. The match will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN+ at 8:30 PM ET.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
The Oilers are not limping into this Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers
EDMONTON, Alberta — Connor McDavid is fine, and coach Kris Knoblauch expects the best hockey player in the world to be good to go for the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. That is the most important thing for Edmonton gearing up for another championship series against the Florida Panthers. Also, acknowledging the notable absence of injured forward Zach Hyman, the Oilers are much closer to full strength in the rematch than they were a year ago and are not limping into the final this time around. 'We're very confident in the group that we have and the players that are available,' defenseman Darnell Nurse said Monday after a day off the ice for players. 'There's been guys that have stepped up in huge moments so far over the course of the playoffs, and I'm sure over the course of the series we'll need more of that.' A smoother journey through the playoffs helps. Edmonton won each of its past two series in five games apiece, and that has allowed for some much-needed rest along the way. 'Are we 100% healthy? No, not quite, obviously with Hyman being out, which will be a huge loss,' Knoblauch said Monday. "But overall I would say we're in a little bit better position physically.' Reinforcements have also arrived just in time. Winger Evander Kane returned for Game 2 of the first round against Los Angeles after missing the entire regular season recovering from multiple surgeries to repair injuries that knocked him out of the Cup final a year ago when he needed injections just to be able to walk. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm got back in the lineup for the clinching game of the Western Conference final against Dallas after thinking several weeks earlier he wouldn't be able to play again until October. 'When doctors tell you something, they're usually right,' Ekholm said. 'Most people didn't think I was going to be in this position, so to be able to be part of this group, to be part of things on the ice and help this team win has been the goal the whole time and now that it's reality is awesome for me.' The Oilers did not win last year when they faced the Panthers, losing three in a row to start the series and clawing back to force a Game 7 only to experiencing a gut-wrenching defeat. They didn't have Kane healthy then to offset Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett and Florida's hard-nosed pressure. Now they do, with Kane and Corey Perry being counted on to make up for Hyman being out. 'We can play a physical brand of hockey,' Kane said. "We can play an in-your-face brand of hockey. Whatever game you want, we can give you. We're going to play our game, and we're looking forward to that challenge.' The Panthers are also nearly 100% after some injury scares in the East final against Carolina to clutch scorer Sam Reinhart and vastly improved defenseman Niko Mikkola. Only depth forward A.J. Greer's status is any kind of a question going in. McDavid provided some intrigue over the weekend by leaving practice after five minutes and a chat with trainers. Knoblauch brushed that off, saying the three-time league MVP and reigning playoff MVP was fine and said McDavid would practice Tuesday in the final preparation for the series. Connor Brown is also expected to be back for Game 1 Wednesday night in Edmonton after missing the conclusion of the West final. 'He adds a lot of elements to our team,' Knoblauch said. 'Obviously on the penalty kill we need him a lot, his speed, his checking. He's scored and provided some nice offense throughout the season.' Having gotten at least a goal from 19 different players during this run, the Oilers also seem mentally sharper than last year, when they were new to this stage of the playoffs going up against an opponent that had been there before. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should keep driving the bus, but they don't need to do it all. 'This time around we have a lot more depth throughout the entirety of our lineup,' Kane said. "If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys that can be a little bit more physical, we can be more physical. Unfortunately, we're going to have to use that depth and we're going to have to get the job done with it.' NHL playoffs: /hub/stanley-cup and /hub/nhl
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Oilers try to end Canada's NHL title drought by dethroning Panthers
A tension-packed Canada-United States rivalry reaches an emotional high starting Wednesday when the Edmonton Oilers try to become the first Canadian club since 1993 to win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers, powered by superstar Connor McDavid, will face defending champion Florida in the NHL's best-of-seven championship series in a rematch of last year's final, won by the Panthers in seven games. Not since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993 has a Canadian team captured the trophy, but in what has been an intense US-Canada rivalry year, the Oilers have a chance to end the epic drought and US possession of the Cup. "It's going to be an incredible battle again," Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. "They're playing some pretty dominant hockey, so we're excited for the challenge. We've got to be ready for it." A US-Canada grudge match fueled by political overtones could be in the making when the series begins on Wednesday in Edmonton. US President Donald Trump began the tensions by calling for Canada to become the 51st state, even calling former prime minister Justin Trudeau "governor" as if he were only in charge of a US state not a nation. Tariffs against the border neighbors didn't help either. It all boiled over in the NHL's Four Nations Faceoff tournament when the United States played Canada at Montreal in a round-robin game on February 15 and fans booed the pre-game singing of the US national anthem. Once the puck was dropped, there were three fights in the first nine seconds as the crowd roared. A hard-hitting contest followed with the Americans winning 3-1. Five nights later, the USA and Canada met in the tournament final at Boston, where microphone-wearing referee Gord Dwyer said, "Let's get ready for an epic battle," before dropping the puck. Only one penalty was called and the teams delivered a world-class contest with McDavid scoring the winning goal for Canada in a 3-2 overtime triumph. "You can't take our country and you can't take our game," Trudeau posted on X moments after the finish. Heated emotions remain in US-Canada relations. Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky faced backlash at home over his support for Trump. Travel from Canada to the United States has dipped dramatically and new Canadian prime minister Mark Carney had a minor confrontation in a White House visit with Trump. Carney told Trump Canada would never be for sale, with the US leader replying, "Never say never." That is the backdrop for the Oilers and Panthers rematch, the 12th time the same two teams meet in consecutive Cup finals, the first since Pittsburgh beat Detroit in 2009 after losing to the Red Wings the previous year. No NHL team has beaten the same rival in back-to-back finals since Montreal beat Boston in 1977 and 1978. McDavid and German teammate Leon Draisaitl lead all NHL playoff scorers and Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner has rebounded after losing his starting job earlier in the playoffs. The Panthers seized a 3-0 lead in last year's final before the Oilers pulled level only to fall in game seven. "I think we were better for going through last year. It was a great learning experience and it has really driven us all year," McDavid said. "This run has felt different than last year. It has felt very normal. It hasn't been as emotional. We haven't had the highs and we haven't had the lows. It has just kind of been steady and I think that has put us in a good position." Florida makes a third consecutive finals appearance, having lost to Vegas in 2023 before winning last year. The Panthers are sparked by Finnish forward Alexander Barkov, who has six goals and 11 assists to lead Florida in this playoff run. Sam Bennett has a playoff-best 10 goals for the Panthers and right wing Matthew Tkachuk, who started one of the early fights in the US-Canada Four-Nations slugfest, brings an emotional lift to the trophy holders. Russian 36-year-old goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 12-5 in the playoffs with a 2.11 goals-against average for Florida. js/iwd
