There was that natural inclination for Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer to start paying more attention to St. Louis while watching the game that would determine who his team would play next in the NHL playoffs. But he never really started preparing for the Blues, even as they had a multigoal lead over Winnipeg much of that game.

The game at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the only one on the schedule Sunday night, May 4. It's a big one, with the winner advancing to the second round and the loser heading home for the summer.