Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 (1C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points; defeated Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in the first round Avalanche: 50-25-7, 107 points; defeated Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in the first round SEASON SERIES: DAL: 1-2-1, COL: 3-1-0 GAME BREAKERS: Stars: Wyatt Johnston continues to build off an impressive second season in the NHL (65 points; 32 goals, 33 assists in 82 games). The forward plays like a veteran and comes up in big moments, including the overtime goal in a 3-2 win in Game 3 against the Golden Knights and the opening goal in Game 7. Johnston led the Stars through the first round with seven points (four goals, three assists) in seven games. Avalanche: You have to go with Nathan MacKinnon again. Though other players scored more goals in the first round, MacKinnon is still the one who opponents want and need to shut down the most. He had nine points (two goals, seven assists) against the Jets, tied for the Avalanche lead with linemate Mikko Rantanen and defenseman Cale Makar, each of whom also had two goals and seven assists. GOALTENDING: Stars: Jake Oettinger was solid in a tight first-round series, going 4-3 with a 1.95 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. The Stars went 16-4 in their final 20 regular-season games, when Oettinger was 13-3-0 with a 2.26 GAA, .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 16 starts. He returned to form as the regular season ended and he's carried that over to the postseason. Avalanche: Alexandar Georgiev had a forgettable start to the playoffs, but it's how you finish, right? He rebounded from a 7-6 loss in Game 1 to win his next four, is 4-1 with a 3.03 GAA and .900 save percentage and didn't allow more than three goals in a game after the opener. Backup Justus Annunen is healthy again after missing the first two games with an illness. X FACTORS: Stars: Logan Stankoven was held to two assists in the first round but had a crucial game-tying assist in the first period of Game 5, 1:02 after Vegas took a 1-0 lead. The 21-year-old could be a key secondary scorer against the Avalanche whether he plays center or wing. Stankoven ranked second among NHL rookies who played at least 12 regular-season games with 0.58 points per game (14 in 24 games), behind Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (0.90), and had two points (one goal, one assist) and four shots on goal in two games against Colorado. Avalanche: Artturi Lehkonen scored in all five games against the Jets and ranks second on Colorado in goals behind Valeri Nichushkin (seven). He's also tied with Mittelstadt for the fourth-most even-strength points (six) in the playoffs and is second on the Avalanche behind Rantanen (seven). Lehkonen is consistently a solid playoff performer; he had six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games last postseason and 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 20 games when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022. He's a big part of the top power-play unit with high-scoring skaters MacKinnon, Rantanen, Nichushkin and Makar. WILL WIN IF: Stars: They remain stingy on defense. Outside of Game 1, when the Golden Knights scored four goals, the Stars held them to three or fewer in the next six games, not easy to do against the defending Stanley Cup champions. They're allowing 2.29 goals per game (fifth in the playoffs) and will need that same type of defense against the Avalanche, who lead the postseason with 5.60 goals per game. Avalanche: They keep the balanced scoring going. Colorado got contributions across the board and not just from their top line of Nichushkin, MacKinnon and Rantanen. Six players have at least six points. You need depth scoring at this time of year, and it paid off for the Avalanche in the first round. It's something they'll need to continue if they're going to keep advancing. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-vs-colorado-2024-playoff-preview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Dallas! Stars! in 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 This should be a fun, high flying, back and forth series. Really looking forward to this one. Colorado had a relatively easy affair against a sputtering Winnipeg team, whereas Dallas had to overcome a lot of adversity and a tough opponent, so Stars in 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 Stars in 6. No reason for 6 games but hopefully the Stars none the less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 4 hours ago, Abe Froman said: Dallas! Stars! in 7 Much better matchup for Dallas. Georgiev sucks ass crack! I gotcha Abe!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Dreamer Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 blowing 3-0 lead, surely not the start Dallas wanted 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 It's nice to see Kathryn Tappen. I mean you know, because I admire her reporting and stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 4-0 stars going into the 3rd. 4-2 now with 12m left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 I wanna go to a game in Dallas. It always looks like people are standing during the third or at least during lots of times during gameplay. Seems fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 COL buzzing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 4-3 with 3:44 left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 DAL takes high sticking penalty with 2:55 left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 ENG. 5-3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 This one's goin' the distance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 Solid road win by the Stars tonight to go up 2-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted Tuesday at 04:22 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:22 AM Johnston just passed up the puck on a 2-on-1 with a chance to seal the hattrick on an empty net, this kid sure is something. Colorado is cooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted Tuesday at 04:39 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:39 AM 15 minutes ago, Karan said: Johnston just passed up the puck on a 2-on-1 with a chance to seal the hattrick on an empty net, this kid sure is something. Colorado is cooked. Probably wanted to give Steel his first goal of this season's playoffs. Very unselfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted Tuesday at 04:49 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 04:49 AM Stars are going to win it all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted Wednesday at 03:32 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 03:32 PM On 5/14/2024 at 12:49 AM, Abe Froman said: Stars are going to win it all. I think they have earned it and I haven't been quiet about my support for them in the west. Rangers are gunna need all they got and then some to beat the Stars. I sure hope they can do it but my goodness Dallas is fun to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted Wednesday at 05:53 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:53 PM 2 hours ago, jsm7302 said: I think they have earned it and I haven't been quiet about my support for them in the west. Rangers are gunna need all they got and then some to beat the Stars. I sure hope they can do it but my goodness Dallas is fun to watch. I like them because they eliminated LTIR Vegas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted Wednesday at 05:55 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:55 PM 2 hours ago, jsm7302 said: I think they have earned it and I haven't been quiet about my support for them in the west. Rangers are gunna need all they got and then some to beat the Stars. I sure hope they can do it but my goodness Dallas is fun to watch. Stars are probably the most rounded team in the playoffs. Their offensive depth is unrivaled and Oettinger seems to have regained his lost form. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted Wednesday at 09:07 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 09:07 PM Fuck Dallas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasRanger Posted Thursday at 12:13 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:13 AM Senior Airman doesn't know how to salute properly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe Froman Posted Thursday at 12:52 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:52 AM Colorado ties it up with 0.5 seconds on the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted Thursday at 02:42 PM Share Posted Thursday at 02:42 PM 13 hours ago, Abe Froman said: Colorado ties it up with 0.5 seconds on the clock. Between this goal and a couple of softies, Oettinger didn't have a great game. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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