Your Dallas Stars!

It is still undecided who the Stars opponent will be during the second round of the NHL Playoffs but it's either the Colorado Avalance or the San Jose Sharks. SB-12 offers up his Round 2 analysis:

"Dallas Stars fans had something great to wake up too this Monday morning. That something great was the simple fact that the Dallas Stars broke through the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2003 season against the Edmonton Oilers. That's right, a professional Dallas team has made it to the second round!

Dallas pulled the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Anaheim Ducks, for the first round this year, and aside from two hicup games, owned the defending champs. Dallas took the series Sunday night in a packed barn at the AAC with a commanding 4-1 win. All aspects of the game were in sync and the Stars looked determined for a full 60 as opposed to the regular season when they sat back and defended when getting a lead. The absence of veteran blue liners Sergei Zubov and Phillipe Boucher were of minimal concern with the excellent "step up" play of three rookie defensemen. Matt Niskanen, Mark Fistric, and Nicklas Grossman played a man's game this first round helping to shut down the Ducks' threats of Selanne, Getzlaf, Pronger, Niedermeyer, and Perry.

The series had the Ducks running over the Stars, and the Stars answering the call with a well disciplined, non-retalitory attack capitalizing on the powerplay. Excellent finishing by veterans Stu Barnes and assists from Mike Modano were also key in the series shifting the scoring across all the Stars assembled lines. The home crowd was electric and deafening at the AAC, and the mood this year in the building was one of hope and expectation rather than mal-ease at the thought of another first round exit. Upon seeing the Stars exit the locker room to take the ice in game 6, I saw a team determined in finishing the job and sending the Ducks home to set up tee times for the off-season. My thoughts were confirmed when the Stars scored 4 goals in the 3rd period to crush the Ducks.

ONTO THE SECOND ROUND! With a Sharks win today in a crucial game seven with Calgary, the Stars will face the Pacific Division champs in the second round. I like our chances with the Sharks. The last meaningless game of the season saw 150+ penalty minutes setting up a great playoff series between these two western conference jugernauts. The familiarity of the two teams playing so often in the regular season bodes well for the Stars. The confidence built from beating the Ducks should carry over through the second round, and home ice should not be a curse for the Stars this year. The Stars did well at the shark tank going 3-1 with an overtime loss, and the Sharks did well at the AAC going 4-0 with an overtime win. The Sharks would have home ice giving the Stars the advantage. I take the Stars in 7 in a hard fought second round.

In the event of a Sharks loss tonight, the Stars will pull the Colorado Avalanche for the semis. The Stars did well in the regular season going 2-1 in the series with a 6-1 win and a 3-0 shutout. The only thing is that the Avalanche sent the Stars packing early in two consecutive first round wins. The Avalanche acquired Forsberg and Foote back into their lineup reminiscent of the 96 cup winning team. All recent history aside, this would be a great matchup as well, and I'd take the Stars in six against the Avs.

No matter who the Stars play in the second round, expectations are growing for a great playoff run to continue. This team's confidence is growing with each win and the national spotlight has shined down on the Stars with their first round success. This is uncharted territory with Dave Tippett at the helm, and you could figure that the law of averages should be going the Stars way. I'm looking forward to catching each and every game of the second round. GO STARS!"

Thanks SB-12!