Whether inside the AAC, or in enemy territory at Bridgestone Arena, or even at the Official Dallas Stars Watching Party at HERO in Victory Plaza, the Stars faithful were loud, even during the National Anthem
The Dallas Stars had their work cut out for them Saturday, especially in enemy territory at Bridgestone Arena, and especially after (who else) Stars-killer Rocco Grimaldi scored the first goal to give the Preds a 1-0 lead. In the past, like waaaay in the past, a different Stars team might have had trouble when trailing. Not this team. It wouldn't take long for the Stars to even it up, as the kids were alright. Roope Hintz circled behind the net and found Jason Dickinson in front, who found the back of the net, tie game!
Then, the Stars top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov made their presence known, as Seguin fed Radulov through the crease, and the pride of Nizhny Tagil, Russia gave the Stars the lead which they never relinquished. Rads would also score the Stars third goal, his second of the game, from a sweet no-look pass from Jamie Benn (scroll down)
The Predators kept things interesting when Ryan Johansen netted his first goal of the Playoffs, but the joy in Smashville would be short lived as Dallas' top line would NOT be denied. Tyler Seguin got in on the acton, thanks to another sweet feed from his BFF Jamie Benn.
Jason Dickinson, in his first NHL Playoff Series of his career, saw Alexander Radulov's two goals and said "OK I can do that too!" thanks to a turnover by Nashville's Austin Watson, and the Stars would regain their 3 goal lead.
Of course, you knew the Preds weren't just going to roll over, and less than a minute later they would score another goal, making it 5-3, and it seemed as if the ice was tilted in Nashville's favor in the final minutes, especially with Pekka Rinne pulled for the extra attacker. Fortunately, the Stars have a 2018-19 Vezina Trophy finalist protecting their goal in Ben Bishop, and "Bish Pleased" the Stars faithful with another Playoff win, his third of the Series.
Who saw THAT coming? After a 5 goal outburst on Wednesday night in Game 4, the Stars potted 5 again in Game 5, winning by a score of 5-3. Now the teams head back to Dallas for Game 6 Monday night, as the Stars look to close out the Preds Monday night at American Airlines Center. If you're going to the game BE LOUD, WEAR GREEN, GO STARS! Here's how the the win looked at the watching party at HERO in Victory Plaza.
As the Stars have done in the regular season, they cranked up the celebration music in the locker room post-game. Their victory song is "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles, which is apropos because as long as they keep winning "life goes on brah"