Dallas Stars erupt after repeated hits on Miro Heiskanen

Taking runs at a franchise cornerstone is the fastest way to ignite absolute chaos on the ice. The Dallas Stars sent a very clear physical message to the rest of the league.

You simply cannot take cheap shots at an elite puck-moving defenseman without answering the bell. The unwritten rules of the sport still exist for a very good reason.

Opposing forwards took multiple heavy runs at Heiskanen early in the game. The physicality immediately crossed the line from aggressive checking into highly dangerous territory.

That specific type of targeting is entirely unacceptable for a contender. The defensive structure relies heavily on his ability to eat massive 25-minute assignments every single night.

Adam Erne and rookie Justin Hryckowian instantly recognized the situation and took matters into their own hands. They dropped the gloves and aggressively defended their star teammate.

The immediate physical pushback entirely shifted the momentum of the hockey game. The bench fed off that raw energy and completely dominated the possession battle from that point forward.

Gulutzan firmly supported the aggressive response from his depth forwards during his post-game availability. He wants this group to play with a serious edge on a nightly basis.

The regular season is a remarkably grueling 82-game marathon. Opposing teams will absolutely bully your skilled players if you do not establish a hard physical boundary immediately.

Erne brings incredibly valuable veteran grit to the bottom six configuration. He won his roster spot through sheer determination and a willingness to play heavy hockey.

Hryckowian is actively proving he belongs at the highest professional level by constantly playing significantly above his weight class. The young rookie understands exactly what his role requires.

Heiskanen is the absolute heartbeat of the Dallas transition game. Losing him to a completely avoidable injury would entirely derail their legitimate championship aspirations this spring.

Over his NHL career, the Finnish defenseman has consistently logged incredibly difficult minutes against the elite units of the sport. Protecting that specific asset is priority number one.

The Stars are officially gearing up for the brutal final stretch of the schedule. They are loudly proving they possess the exact type of team toughness required for a deep playoff run.