Back-to-back could tilt series like in ’09

EDMONTON, Alberta — Dan Bylsma sees some parallels between this Stanley Cup Final that features games on back-toback nights and the last time it happened, in 2009 when he was the winning coach.

It was Game 4 on Friday night and right back for Game 5 tonight for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars in just the second final with a back-toback since the mid-1950s. While it was Games 1 and 2 for Bylsma’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings, the scheduling could mark a turning point this year because the banged-up Lightning might need to close this out fast or the Stars could outlast Tampa to win a long, grueling series.

Leaving old Joe Louis Arena down 2-0, Penguins players told Bylsma, “We’re going to win.” It was all about extending the series as long as possible because Detroit was the more tired team from playing three games in four days dating to their Western Conference clincher.

“We felt like the longer the series would go, we would take over the series,” Bylsma said by phone Friday. “If Dallas can win this and essentially drop the puck as soon as they possibly can the next day, they may be able to take over the series.”

Tampa Bay and Dallas players and coaches were saying all the right things about focusing entirely on Game 4 before worrying about Game 5 on the second half of the back-toback games. Bylsma agrees, while also pointing out that Jon Cooper and Rick Bowness might coach differently if Game 4 were to get out of hand like Game 3 did.

Bowness pulled Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin for rest after two periods, and Cooper kept top defenseman Victor Hedman and leading scorer Nikita Kucherov to one of each player’s lowest ice-time totals of the playoffs. The deep Lightning might also insert a forward with fresh legs for Game 5 or change looks with seven defensemen one night and six the next.

“For a coach, there is some planning going in to the start of a back-to

back,” said Bylsma, who’s now a Red Wings assistant. “As a coach, you don’t include your team in this preparation. But you know you’re playing back to back, so there are some scenarios in which you’re going to make an adjustment ingame in that first game.“

No Stamkos

Steven Stamkos made a lasting mark on the final with an iconic goal, though that could be the last time he takes this ice in the series.

Out for Game 4,

Stamkos has not been ruled out for the series, but it’s certainly possible after he played just 2:37 before tweaking something in Game 3.

“He felt he did a big part in helping us win that game,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt, and so far the hand’s been a pretty good one.”

Stamkos scored on his only shot Wednesday night, capping an emotional return almost seven months in the making and helping Tampa Bay take a 2-1 series lead. He hadn’t played since Feb. 25, had core muscle surgery in early March and aggravated the injury in voluntary workouts over the summer.

Dickinson produces

Fourth-liner Jason Dickinson has been one of the Stars’ best players in the final, based on his usual defensive stinginess and some offensive production. After no goals in his first 21 postseason games, Dickinson has scored twice in this series.

Dickinson also draws the tough assignment of matching up against Tampa Bay’s top line of Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat.

“He’s a hard-working guy who doesn’t get a lot of credit sometimes,” said Stars center Tyler Seguin.

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