NHL Playoffs 2023: X-Factors for Stars vs. Knights Game 6

The Dallas Stars kept their season alive thanks to some unlikely sources in Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Stars get to come back home for Game 6 of the Western Conference Final to try and force another trip out to Nevada.

Dallas' depth played a massive role in Game 5, as Ty Dellandrea and Luke Glendening accounted for three of the team's four goals. Dellandrea netted both of the team's third-period goals to force Game 6.

The Stars have typically relied on Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, Joe Pavelski and other top-line players to score the big goals this postseason. Robertson scored Dallas' second goal on Saturday, but the those players took a back seat in Game 5.

Dallas needs all of its lines to play well in Game 6 to keep its momentum going and force an unlikely Game 7.

Vegas would love to avoid Game 7 by earning its second road win of the series, but to do so, it may need to score in the third period for the first time since Game 2.

Dallas' Depth

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Luke Glendening #11 of the Dallas Stars celebrates with teammates after a goal during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dellandrea and Glendening were superb in Dallas' Game 5 triumph.

Dellandrea netted his second and third goals of the postseason and Glendening scored for the second time in the playoffs.

The two players have six points between them in the postseason, and yet they were the most important Dallas skaters in Game 5.

Dallas needs a combination of star power and back-line depth to combat whatever Vegas throws at it Game 6 to end the series.

The Stars have gotten plenty of contributions from the top line of Hintz, Pavelski and Robertson.

The home side will also get Jamie Benn back from his two-game suspension in Game 6.

Benn could provide a boost to Dallas' depth through his experience, and he could have some extra juice on his own to make an impact after missing two games for his cross-check on Mark Stone.

Benn's return may water down the scoring impact of the third and fourth lines, but regardless of what happens in Game 6, it was important for the depth to shine in Game 5.

Dallas needs a relentless attack on Adin Hill's net for 60 minutes, and it can avoid much of a drop off if the depth players perform as well as they did on Saturday.

Third Period Scoring

Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 27: Jonathan Marchessault #81 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during the third period against the Dallas Stars Game Five of the Western Conference Final of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Goals in the final 20 minutes seem like an obvious factor to mention, but they have not been there in abundance in the Western Conference Final.

There were no third-period goals scored in Games 3 and 4. Dallas failed to get any comeback going when down four goals in Game 3 and the 2-2 deadlock was not broken in the final stanza in Game 4.

Dallas earned the difference in Game 5 through Dellandrea's pair of goals less than two minutes apart in the third period.

Vegas' last third-period tally occurred in Game 2, when Jonathan Marchessault equalized with less than three minutes left to send the game to overtime.

The Knights need to make more of an impact in the third period regardless of how the game plays out.

If Vegas' third-period drought continues, it opens up the possibility for Dallas to take Game 6 and send the series back to an improbable Game 7.

It was hard to imagine a Game 6 when Vegas took a 3-0 lead, but the Stars have played well enough to force Game 6 on their home ice, and that home crowd could also help propel them to victory.