W2W4: St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars, Game 7

2:54 PM ET

DALLAS — A series that has been equal parts entertaining and unpredictable comes to a close starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Dallas. Here’s what to watch for as the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars try to end each other’s season in Game 7:

• Stars coach Lindy Ruff met with his team on Wednesday and reminded them that they have to play this game with the same risk-taking instincts that have been so successful all season long. He doesn’t want his team playing conservative hockey just because it’s Game 7. The Stars are a high-risk team and have to remain so tonight.

“The situations I’m talking about aren’t the careless ones where we’re giving up breakaways and 2-on-1s. The high risk I’m talking about is the gap up, is playing those crucial 1-on-1s where you’re going to trust a guy so we can stay in,” Ruff explained on Wednesday morning. “That’s the risk we need in our game … let’s contest the ice, don’t back off.”

Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said the Stars are dangerous when everyone is on the same page and playing with that same level of liability. They become vulnerable when they’re not.

“They live and die by it. When it’s one guy doing it and four guys sitting back, that’s where you start getting exposed,” Shattenkirk said. “That’s what got them here, that’s why they’re such a successful team is because they play with that risk. They do it well. They play with risk and they know how to do it.”

• Look for the benches to be shortened in this game if the coaches suspect any players are not …

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