Even after back-to-back wins, Stars coach Pete DeBoer is making adjustments to his lineup for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers.
DeBoer announced Wednesday morning that Radek Faksa would return to the lineup in place of Craig Smith on Dallas’ fourth line.
DeBoer has rotated his fourth-line forwards throughout the postseason. Faksa last played in Game 1 against Edmonton. He has appeared in seven postseason games this year and scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Vegas series.
Faksa is one of Dallas’ best players at the face-off dot. He is also a skilled penalty killer. But DeBoer said the change is mainly to offer fresh legs deep in this playoff run.
“I think that’s the reason you have depth to put in fresh legs at different points depending,” DeBoer said. “I’m sure people are going, ‘You won two games in a row. Why are you changing your lineup?’ Sometimes it’s just the practicality of fresh legs, using your depth and keeping everyone involved.”
Smith, whom the Stars acquired during last summer’s free agency, has played in 14 playoff games this year. He has two assists and has appeared in every game the last two series.
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