Brad Richards has battled illness, injury, a new city, a new set of expectations and a new life.

Loui Eriksson has battled himself for much of the last two seasons.

Together, they could help each other win their respective battles.

AP

Dallas Stars forward Loui Eriksson celebrates one of his two goals in the series.

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Richards and Eriksson have found something special, a kind of chemistry that has been key in the Stars' first-round, best-of-7 playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks. Combining on a line with Joel Lundqvist, the duo has given the Dallas Stars the wild-card performance that could help swing the series. While Anaheim throws the majority of its attention at Mike Ribeiro's line, Richards and Co. have been able to find open ice.

Getting Richards integrated into the team has been key, captain Brenden Morrow said.

"I think he feels real comfortable in the playoffs," Morrow said. "This is sort of his element. The intensity, the atmosphere – I guess his nerves are built for this, because he's been huge. He sees the ice, he's patient with it and he makes some plays that not a lot of guys can make."

Richards has taken the challenge of helping the team win in the playoffs seriously, and teammates say it's a burden that weighs on him. However, he said he definitely is feeling a part of the team.

"It's been a struggle to fit in with the losses at the end of the year, but we are rolling three lines right now and we need to keep it going," Richards said. "You are always searching for chemistry on any team you're on, and we're no different. It would be good to find that with Loui."

Richards said he has been impressed with the way Eriksson embraces the challenge.

"I think for any young player in a situation like this, the biggest key is to not be satisfied, not think you've made it or done enough," Richards said. "I don't see any of that in him. He keeps pushing every shift."