Avs-Stars ready for conference finals rematch
Associated Press
DALLAS -- Through two rounds of the playoffs, the Dallas
Stars are playing better than they did last season when they won
the Stanley Cup.
Mike Modano has the top line in high gear and Joe Nieuwendyk is
making the second line nearly as potent. The Derian Hatcher-led
defense has maintained the tempo Dallas prefers and goaltender Ed
Belfour has been spectacular.
|  | | Modano has been great, and now his teammates are keeping up. |
But the Stars know what they've done so far counts only as a
good start. They realize they'll need to be even better in the
Western Conference finals against a Colorado team playing equally
well, if not better.
"We were chuckling a little bit because this is the first time
in a very long time that this team we have come in as an
underdog," Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We'll need a lot of
things to go our way."
The Avalanche and Stars have each lost just one game per round
in setting up a rematch of last year's conference finals. Both have
allowed 18 goals, though Colorado has scored two more than Dallas.
The Stars have had an easier road in facing Edmonton than San
Jose. Colorado has gone through Phoenix and Detroit.
Then again, the Avalanche have been going through everyone since
acquiring defenseman Ray Bourque from Boston. They're 20-4-1 since
his arrival even with a knee injury keeping him out of the last two
games.
Colorado coach Bob Hartley got a close look at Dallas on Sunday
night as he watched their 4-1 victory over San Jose from the
stands.
Nieuwendyk started the scoring midway through the first period.
Then linemate Scott Thornton followed with another goal three
minutes later.
After some excellent stops by Belfour protected the lead in the
second period, the Stars scored power-play goals 41 seconds apart
in the third period to really blow things out.
Belfour came within 11:28 of a third straight home shutout, but
instead settled for a scoreless streak of 187 minutes, 25 seconds
at Reunion Arena. He's led Dallas to eight straight playoff wins at
home.
"I'm feeling stronger and stronger," said Belfour, whose
steadiness all season has helped the Stars win while working in new
players and weathering a series of injuries. "A couple games, I
didn't play well. But I feel I get better as the playoffs go on."
Dallas also got this far with an 8-2 record last season, but
five of those wins came in overtime. The Stars have yet to need
extra time this postseason.
Their games have been close, though. Five of their victories,
and a loss, have been by one goal.
Colorado has had more breathing room. The Avalanche have had
only three of 10 games decided by one goal; two were wins, one of
them in overtime.
The minor differences in results match their minor differences
in personnel. Like Dallas, Colorado has four lines that are
expected to produce, six quality defensemen and a superb, seasoned
goaltender.
The teams went seven games in last year's conference finals. The
Stars rebounded from a 3-2 hole to advance to the Stanley Cup
finals, then beat Buffalo in six games.
The Avs are even better now and Dallas knows it must be, too.
"They're playing solid and they have a lot of momentum and
confidence," Modano said. "This is going to be a great series,
just like it was last year. We just have to keep focusing on the
fact we're eight wins away."
Four of them will have to come against Patrick Roy, who has the
most postseason wins of any goalie in NHL history. Belfour, though,
has been the best goalie the last three postseasons, leading Dallas
to the conference finals each time.
"I always like the challenge of playing against Patrick,"
Belfour said. "The games are always competitive. I don't expect
anything different." |
Everyone, including Mike Modano, has been waiting for this rematch.
