The rookie forward took rushes alongside Vladislav Namestnikov and Luke Glendening during the club's morning skate on Wednesday, and the 22-year-old will get his opportunity in the spotlight in front of a "C of Red." Of his 12 goals during the regular season, five were game winners, which co-led NHL rookies and ranked third on the Stars. The Lidkoping, Sweden native ranked sixth on the team in goals and finished the season with 17 points in 65 games.
Peterson's personality is such that you can't help but root for him. Whether he's in the lineup or not, he always has a smile on his face and provides a ray of sunshine no matter what's happening on the ice.
His postseason debut is one of two lineup changes up front for the Stars, as Marián Studenič will also draw in. They'll replace Denis Gurianov and Alexander Radulov, who both played in Game 4.
The message to both of them from head coach Rick Bowness at the pregame skate was simple.
"Just do what you do," he said.
For a team that's only been able to score seven goals in the first four games of the series, the hope is Peterson brings the scoring touch he had during the regular season. All 12 of his goals were scored at even strength, a testament to him finding ways generate offense 5-on-5. And while the goal scoring hasn't been there for Studenic, both players bring youth, energy and speed to the lineup.
"They're both good skaters, both hang onto pucks and make plays," Bowness said to reporters. "That's what we need right now. We need to make a few more plays in the o-zone and on the rush, and see if we can get more goals on the board."
Though the stage has never been bigger nor the stakes ever been higher since he came over to North America, the magnitude of the game doesn't seem the faze the young Swede. He didn't look out of place when he made the team out of training camp, even scoring in his NHL debut during the club's season opener in New York. And when he was reassigned to Texas of the American Hockey League in late October, he promptly recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in six games.
The Stars could certainly use some of that offensive punch in Game 5.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.
