GDT Rd 2 Gm 1: 4/25/19 | 8:30 PM CT | vs Stars | NBCSN/NHL-A

[theohall]

Two similar squads share the ice Thursday night when the St. Louis Blues host the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Both Central Division teams were among the league's best after the All-Star break in late January. Both teams rocketed up the standings thanks to strong defensive play. Both teams advanced by winning six-game sets against their favored counterparts -- St. Louis beat the Winnipeg Jets while the Stars upended the Nashville Predators.

"We kind of have a similar style where they don't give up a ton and play really good defensive hockey," Stars forward Blake Comeau told the Dallas Morning News. "They obviously have some guys that can put the puck in the net. They played a pretty good series against Winnipeg. Pretty familiar with each other, so it's going to come down to who can execute the best."

Dallas won three of their four meetings in the regular season, all coming after the calendar flipped to 2019, and is the only team to twice beat Blues rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington.

"We beat them, too," Binnington told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "So every game's a different game, new game. It's about composure ... playoffs, anyone can win. So we've got to prepare the same way and watch some video, just believe in ourselves and stick to our game plan."

Binnington and his Dallas counterpart will make for an interesting study in the series. While Binnington pushed himself into the Calder Trophy conversation by excelling after a midseason summons from the minors, the Stars have a more proven standout -- Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop -- between the pipes.

Thanks to Bishop, the Stars were the second-best defensive team during the regular season, and able to overcome being the third-lowest-scoring team in the league.

"He takes up a lot of the net," Blues defensemen Joel Edmundson said of the netminder who grew up in St. Louis. "I watched the (Nashville) series. He stood on his head every game. I think he won them a couple games. He's got the size, he's competitive.

"Even watching the game (Monday) night, he's talking to his defensemen, you can hear him on the ice. He's talking to everyone. So he's very verbal. He communicates a lot, so I think that helps out their team. But I think just for us, we've got to get bodies in the crease, or in front of him, take his eyes away and make it hard on him."

Offensively, the Blues have a more balanced and deeper attack, but the Stars have a lights-out top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov and a rising star in defenseman John Klingberg.

The Stars are looking at a couple of roster changes for the series opener. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak will miss the game due to a lower-body injury, and be replaced by Taylor Fedun. Mattias Janmark is expected to play in place of Tyler Pitlick.

[glen a richter]

This series will hinge on the Blues ability to get traffic in front of the net. Spend the series in Bishops face or spend next week booking tee times. They have to make Big Ben uncomfortable.

[Portland Blues]

This is going to be a tough one.

[WaukeeBlues]

Similar to that Wheeler, Shiefle, Conner line, if the Blues can do damage control on Benn & Seguin we're in good shape.

I hope the momentum from the previous series win carries over.

Blues 3
Stars 2

[StL Dan]

It will continue to take a total team effort with efficiency and effectiveness in all three phases of the game - D end, neutral zone transition and offensive zone time/scoring chances.

Really looking forward to an edge of your seat series.

Blues in 7

[glen a richter]

If Bishop is giving up 3 goals in any game, it’s a sure win for the Blues. I think 2-1 is more like it, probably OT and it could go either way.

[WaukeeBlues]

If Bishop is giving up 3 goals in any game, it’s a sure win for the Blues. I think 2-1 is more like it, probably OT and it could go either way.

Optimism!!

[gaijin]

Just win.

Damn the late start.

[Portland Blues]

I hate when there's a game before our game. Now Boston ties it with 4 minutes left.

They better start our game on another channel if this one goes long.

[Portland Blues]

"Live look in on Stars / Blues" during intermission.

FRANK YOU! I want to watch the freakin' game.

[ibldbl]

Fabbri! 5 HOLE!

[Portland Blues]

Nice.

[Portland Blues]

Schwartz almost had too much time on that chance.

[Robb_K]

Nice chances recently for Schenn and Sundqvist, with Schwartz actively participating. And now one for Parayko. They've been The Blues' best line. It could easily be 3-0 now with a bit of extra luck. I'm very happy with The 1st Period. I hope Fabbri can do some more damage. His goal is a good sign for the rest of this season's playoffs.

[Robb_K]

I think the first 10 minutes involved both teams "feeling each other out". The Blues weren't sure what Dallas was going to do, so, they couldn't get into a groove on how they were going to operate their forecheck. By about halfway through the period, they figured out how they could take advantage of how The Stars were playing. I expect The Blues to continue their heavy forecheck and puck possession game they had going during the latter half of The 1st, and get a lot of shots on goal early, and put a lot of pressure on The Stars. I hope they'll get the bounces, and expand their lead. I don't know if Dallas is the better conditioned team, and expending a lot of energy early might come back to haunt The Blues. But, being that The Blues had 4 days rest, and Dallas only 2, AND The Blues are at home, I'm guessing that the odds favour The Blues, and going all in early in The 2nd is the best way to go. Going up by 2 or 3 early in this game might help seal a crucial 1st game win, which could set the tone for this series.

[Robb_K]

Sundqvist made a great play to be right in front of the net to receive the pass for the tip attempt. The Blues have had several opportunities like that. If one or 2 of those go in, they're sitting pretty. I hope they continue picking up the loose pucks in The O-Zone, and continue to go to the net.

[Portland Blues]

First crack at a PP.

[Robb_K]

The Blues need to take advantage of this power play and move up 2-0. I also hope they can sucker Benn into some extra penalties. I like him off the ice.

[Portland Blues]

Well, that looked like ass.

[Portland Blues]