The Dallas Stars are headed to their second straight Western Conference Finals after defeating the two most recent Stanley Cup champs in the playoffs.
Why it matters: The Stars may have toppled two of the best teams in the National Hockey League, but they're not a shoo-in to the Stanley Cup Finals.
- They have home-ice advantage in the seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers, but the Oilers have the league's best players .
State of cheer: The Stars have had a devoted Dallas fanbase since moving from Minnesota in 1993 . Fans are energetic and loud at the American Airlines Center. Few wear the team's T-shirts, instead shelling out money for jerseys.
- After every Dallas goal, fans chant "Dallas! Stars!" to Arlington-based Pantera's "Puck Off," which was written for the team. If you want to fit in, pump your fists along with the most diehard fans.
Who we're watching: The Stars have a mix of young and experienced players, from longtime captain Jamie Benn to second-year player Wyatt Johnston , who turned 21 during the playoffs.
- Johnston has seven goals in the postseason, the most on the team.
- Miro Heiskanen has the most points, with five goals and eight assists. He was the third pick in the first round of the 2017 draft.
- Jason Robertson , who led the team in scoring last year, was the third top scorer this regular season.
Of note: Roope Hintz, who led the Stars in scoring last postseason, has missed the last two games after taking a hard hit. He is listed as day-to-day, per the DMN .
Threat level: Edmonton has the top point earners in the playoffs — Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — with a collective 19 goals and 62 assists.
- McDavid , for example, is the best player in the NHL and ranked third in the regular season for points with 100 assists and 32 goals.
🦦 Yes, but: The Stars have goalie Jake Oettinger, who has been clutch in the postseason with a .918 save percentage.
How to watch: Game 1 is 7:30pm Thursday at the AAC. Tickets are still available or you can watch on TNT or MAX.
Comments / 0