EDMONTON — This time it’s Pete DeBoer’s turn to try injecting energy with a roster move.
With his team fighting to keep its season alive, the Stars coach surprised many when he said on Sunday morning he’ll be inserting AHL MVP Mavrik Bourque into his lineup for Game 6.
With just one regular season NHL game on his résumé, the 22-year-old first rounder will make his NHL playoff debut despite not playing since his Texas Stars were eliminated May 12.
“Offence has been hard to come by in this series and when you look at our grouping of guys, there he’s the one guy that probably has the most offensive potential of the options we’re looking at,” said DeBoer, who has previously rotated Craig Smith, Ty Dellandrea and Radek Faksa into the lineup.
Bourque scored 26 goals and had 77 points in 77 games this season with Texas, as the AHL’s top player.
The 5-foot-10, 191-pound centre added three goals and 11 points in seven playoff games.
“He’s got fresh legs, he hasn’t played in a few weeks,” said Logan Stankoven, who played with Bourque in Texas most of the season.
“I think he’ll bring energy to our group, and if he gets chances I think he has all the confidence to finish on them. He’s really good defensively, and offensively he can shoot or pass. He’s not just a scorer or playmaker, he can do both.”
He’ll replace Dellandrea in the lineup.
“I had a pretty good season, so I’m ready to go,” said Bourque, a product of the QMJHL.
“I think confidence is huge for every hockey player, especially for me. Even the last few weeks I’ve spent with the team for the playoffs have helped me feel ready today.”
Surging Oilers focus on not looking ahead
It’s no secret the Oilers have dominated five of the last six periods of the series, scoring eight straight goals before Dallas’ late, meaningless goal Friday.
Defenceman Mattias Ekholm didn’t blink when asked if his Oilers played their best game of the year in Game 5.
“It’s pretty close — I’d say it’s up there,” he said.
“I think the last 110 or 112 minutes of hockey we’ve played have been really good and I feel like we’re building toward something.
“Both teams were a little fragile with leads to start the series, so just to see that having a lead has become more comfortable for us, in a sense, (is good).
“We’re not sitting here being all satisfied over what we’ve done so far. We know every game in the playoffs gets bigger the farther you get down the road.”
The big question is how the players can manage the obvious excitement and nerves surrounding a game in which an Oilers win would advance them to the Stanley Cup final against Florida.
“We’re playing a really good team, and if we relax at all we’re going to be in trouble,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, whose club leads the Western Conference final series 3-2.
“As good as we were last game, probably it’s not good enough to beat Dallas in an elimination game, so our team has got to be even better than we were the last two games.”
Not that the past matters, but the Oilers have a 13-1 record when leading a series 3-2 at home.
“Anytime your season is on the line you find an extra level — you just have to,” said Oilers winger Zach Hyman, when asked what to expect from the Stars.
“We experienced that in the Vancouver series. You want your season to continue.
“On the flipside, for us, you need to match that and go a step further to put a team away.
“To have that opportunity at home is a huge opportunity, especially with the crowd tonight and everything that’s on the line.
“It’s the hardest thing to do to win the fourth one.”
Nurse stressing calmness
Darnell Nurse has taken plenty of heat through the playoffs for subpar defensive play, but his efforts the last two games mirror the team’s turnaround in the series.
“I think the last couple games he’s played really well,” said Knoblauch, noting his highly-paid, second-pairing defenceman has 12 hits in Game 4.
“I think maybe (the criticism) was a little unfair, throughout the rest of the playoffs his game was probably better than probably perceived. Numbers don’t always tell the whole story.
“The biggest thing is how well he’s moving his feet. Very few guys can defend as well as he can. He covers a lot of area with his reach and his speed, and his physicality helps with how strong he is. He’s able to eliminate plays quickly.”
Nurse’s media availability Sunday morning was far less intense than last week when he was the focal point of Oilers’ fans frustrations.
Asked how his club will try managing emotions ahead of Game 6, he said the key is to act like you’ve been here before.
“The tone of the group throughout the playoffs has been calm and taking it each day as it comes,” said Nurse, who sits minus-13.
“There’s a lot of belief in this group and that’s where the calm comes from.”
How they’ll line up
Knoblauch said he might have one lineup change, and after the morning skate it appears that will be Derek Ryan returning to centre the fourth line.
There was concern Corey Perry might not be available after leaving Friday’s game, briefly, with an apparent shoulder injury. Knoblauch said he’s fine and will play.
While Bourque had chemistry with Stankoven on the farm, it’s hard to imagine DeBoer would put them together and break up his best line from the other night, meaning Bourque likely plays on the fourth line.
Don’t be surprised if he gets some power-play time, as the Stars have yet to score with the man advantage in this series.
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