Miro Heiskanen’s two-way playoff dominance puts his name alongside NHL’s best defensemen

In the first six nights of the NHL playoffs, 54 players have yet to be on the ice for a goal against.

None have played as much as Miro Heiskanen has.

Heiskanen, who had two assists during the Stars’ 4-2 Game 3 win over the Flames on Saturday night, has played 78 minutes in the first three games in the first round, and has not allowed a Calgary goal. He’s played over 17 minutes more than the next closest player yet to be scored on.

“Miro was dominant tonight,” Stars coach Rick Bowness said. “I thought that was his best game in a while. He was skating with the puck, hanging on to the puck, making plays defensively. That’s the Miro we need to see. That’s his best game.”

In fact, only six players this postseason have played more than Heiskanen’s 78 minutes, and five of them needed a three-overtime game between the Rangers and Penguins to pass him.

Heiskanen logged a game-high 26:08 on Saturday night, finishing with five shots, 10 shot attempts, two hits, two blocked shots and a takeaway. When he was on the ice at 5 on 5, the Stars outshot the Flames 12-4 and outscored them 1-0.

Heiskanen picked up assists on Radek Faksa’s opening tally, and on Joe Pavelski’s game-tying goal. He also mostly matched up with Calgary’s second line, centered by Mikael Backlund with Andrew Mangiapane and Tyler Toffoli on the wings.

“I just go out there, like I have said so many times,” Heiskanen said. “Of course, you have to know who’s on the ice, but I just try to do my job, play them hard and try to be the best every night, as good as I can.”

Heiskanen now has 32 points in 43 career playoff games.

What allows him to be productive while also playing against some of the best players in the league?

“He’s one of them, too,” Stars forward Roope Hintz said.

No regrets: Despite the goal not being overturned, Bowness said he would again challenge Trevor Lewis’ first-period goal for goaltender interference. The Stars contended that Milan Lucic interfered with Jake Oettinger before Lewis’ follow went in.

“We saw the interference,” Bowness said. “The league didn’t see it that way. If I had to call it again, I’d call it again. He’s going through there, they collide, he spins him around. The league, they have the final say, but if tell me to challenge it, I’m challenging it.”

Oettinger said he had no comment on the officials’ decision to rule it a goal, and the situation room’s choice to uphold the call. Because of the failed challenge, the Stars were assessed a minor penalty for delay of game. Dallas killed the subsequent penalty.

“If your goalie gets bumped and you don’t call it, you’ve got to stick up for your goalie, right?” Bowness said. “You do. We’re not going to win every challenge, but tonight, I liked our penalty kill in the first period.”

Hearing his name: After a massive save on Johnny Gaudreau with 3 1/2 minutes left in the game, the American Airlines Center showered Oettinger with chants of “Otter! Otter!”

Oettinger said he heard the sellout crowd loud and clear.

“It’s kind of hard not to,” Oettinger said. “It’s awesome.”

It was Oettinger’s first playoff game at home, and 18,532 filled the AAC, complete with streamers that went off following Hintz’s empty-net goal.

“It was unbelievable,” Oettinger said. “It was so fun. We have such great fans. They turned it up even more tonight than the regular season. I don’t think they realize how much that helps us, and how much energy that gives us. We’re going to need them again on Monday.”

Fire extinguisher: Pavelski has provided nightmare fuel for the Flames during his last two series against Calgary.

In the last nine games against the Flames, Pavelski has seven goals and two assists. He had a hat trick in Game 4 of the 2020 first round against Calgary, leading the Stars back from the brink of a 3-1 series deficit. Saturday night’s performance propped Dallas to a 2-1 series lead.

Both of Pavelski’s goals were on rebounds.

“It’s always around the net,” Bowness said. “There’s a timing to get there. There’s a timing anticipating the shot. You can’t get there late. You can’t get there early. There’s a timing with that. Obviously, he’s got it down pat.”

Briefly: Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington rang the post about eight minutes into the first period. The close call sprung a Stars push, as Dallas recorded the game’s next seven shots on goal, including Faksa’s tip goal.

1/28Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) collides with Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) as fellow Star Roope Hintz (24) already lays on the ice during the third period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center, May 7, 2022.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer )