The journey ends Tuesday at Columbus, and the Stars are really already winners.

It was a clinic of sorts in finding new ways to survive in the NHL, and that's what the Stars are doing right now. While they try to learn a new way of hockey under coach Jim Montgomery, they have gone 3-1-1 on the first five games of their longest road trip of the season.

Anton Khudobin put up his second straight stellar performance in net with 33 saves. Roman Polak logged 20:06 of ice time and battled back from a sore rib to help get the game to overtime. And Blake Comeau was on the ice for 18:03, including on the penalty kill that led to Radek Faksa's shorthanded goal -- the only goal of the game for the Stars.

The Stars received a valuable road point in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday because of depth defense -- defense that was acquired in the summer in free agency.

BOSTON -- We talk so much about the Stars' need for depth scoring, that sometimes we need a reminder that depth defense also is important.

They sit 8-5-1 on the season, and they seem to be getting tighter in a lot of different ways. The free-agent trio is a big reason why.

Video: Montgomery on Stars' 'valiant effort' to earn point

Khudobin is a funny teammate who also has done a great job stopping pucks. Comeau adds a physical element and is a great penalty killer who is forging a strong relationship with several younger forwards, including Faksa. And Polak has been a breath of fresh air in a group of defensemen that has seen a real need for size and, well, defense.

Stephen Johns has yet to play this season because of neck soreness and headaches that have persisted despite treatment. Marc Methot has a lower-body issue that will likely be an issue all season. He might play Tuesday at Columbus. He might not.

And that's why it was a little concerning when Polak crumpled to the ice in the third period after taking a hard shot. He got up, went to the locker room, and then came back. Yes, he looked fine, but he later said he got hit in the ribs. He was hit hard enough to go to the dressing room, so it was pretty serious, but Polak knew his team needed him and returned to play big minutes down the stretch

"He played great," Khudobin said. "Blocked shots, battle, do whatever it takes … that's what we need to see."

Montgomery was equally impressed.

"He's just a warrior," Montgomery said. "He's someone you win with because of the attitude, and just how hard he is."

Video: Khudobin reacts after keeping Stars in tight contest

Montgomery and his coaching staff leaned heavily on the trio of Miro Heiskanen, John Klingberg and Esa Lindell in a 4-3 OT win at Washington on Saturday, so they knew they needed more from the depth defensemen on Tuesday against the Bruins.

Klingberg, Heiskanen and Lindell each played more than 24 minutes, so they didn't get a huge break. But Dillon Heatherington had 12:09 in time on ice, Honka had 16:01 and Polak played the aforementioned 20:06.

The 32-year-old Polak had four hits and two blocked shots, and did a great deal to help Khudobin, especially late in the third period and overtime.

"He's a tough guy," Faksa said. "Lots of people don't see the work he does for us. He blocks shots, he plays simple, and that's what we need sometimes. I think that's very important for our team."

Especially as the young, "thinner" defensemen, start to wear down a little.

"With the minutes we played Saturday night with Esa, Miro and John, it was important that Polak, Heater and also Honks -- and I thought Honks played a real good game defensively -- eat some minutes for us," Montgomery said.

Video: DAL@BOS: Khudobin slides across to deny Kuraly

"They did that."

In the end, the Stars were outshot 35-25, chased the Bruins top line for much of the night, and lost in overtime, so it's easy to say this was a failed performance. But the fact they gained a point in the standings and get to move to Columbus on Tuesday with a shred of positive momentum is important.

It's important as this team finds different ways to survive in a league that is built first on survival above everything else.

"Sometimes, it's just not going to go the way you want and you still have to find a way to get the point, at least one," Polak said. "Every point is valuable for us, so we just need to learn from it."

Those watching certainly learned a thing or two about the role players who could become even more important as the season goes on.

They definitely are proving more valuable than first anticipated.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.