Right here's how Dallas Stars they’ve traditionally executed nicely within the Western Convention Finals…
1998: Misplaced Four-2 to Pink Wings
Let's simply say the Stars don't like seeing the Detroit Pink Wings within the convention finals. The Pink Wings took three of the primary 4 video games of the season and beat a Stars workforce that had a greater file and higher protection all season.
Vyacheslav Kozlov led the Pink Wings with three targets, whereas Larry Murphy added 5 assists within the collection.
Detroit swept the collection in a 2-Zero Recreation 6 victory
1999: Gained Four-Three in opposition to the Avalanche
In fact, the Stars prevailed over the Avalanche. How else would he win his first and solely Stanley Cup trophy?
The Stars dispatched the Avalanche, but it surely took seven video games and a dominant Four-1 efficiency and Recreation 7. 4 Dallas gamers scored at the least three targets within the collection, with Jamie Langenbrunner main the best way with 5.
The Stars overcame a Three-2 collection deficit. You recognize what occurred subsequent.
2000: Gained Four-Three in opposition to the Avalanche
So good it wanted a sequel.
The Stars and Avalanche went the space once more a 12 months later to as soon as once more determine the Western Convention champion. Dallas legend Mike Modano had a nine-point streak himself on three targets and 6 assists. Brett Hull contributed 5 targets and three assists himself. Abruptly, the Stars have been headed again to the Stanley Cup Finals, simply with out the completely satisfied ending.
This was the final style of convention finals stars for the higher a part of a decade.
2008: Misplaced Four-2 to Pink Wings
Sure, these convention finals in opposition to the Pink Wings haven’t been enjoyable for the Stars. Dallas fell to Detroit in the identical trend Four-2.
The Stars battled again to win two video games after falling Three-Zero within the collection, but it surely was too deep a gap to climb out of.
Modano, 37, had simply two factors in six video games. Detroit had 5 gamers rating 4 factors or extra.
Dallas then went on its longest convention finals drought for the reason that franchise moved in 1993.
2020: Gained Four-1 in opposition to the Golden Knights
The Stars reeled off three straight wins to defeat the Golden Knights in 5 video games and advance to the Stanley Cup Last throughout an unprecedented 2020 NHL season.
Two of the Stars' 4 wins within the collection have required time beyond regulation, together with their Three-2 thriller in Recreation 5.
Denis Gurianov scored the successful purpose in time beyond regulation.
“Unreal feeling, clearly,” John Klingberg mentioned. “All of the onerous work we've put in to be the place we are actually, we're on a Stanley Cup run. It's all of the onerous work you place in, the movies, the exercises… the ups and downs we've been by way of, it's all value it. We're there now.”
2023: Misplaced Four-2 to Golden Knights
Vegas defeated Dallas Four-2 within the convention finals final 12 months earlier than successful the primary Stanley Cup in franchise historical past.
Vegas took a Three-Zero collection lead, and whereas Dallas was capable of pressure a Recreation 6 with two wins, they in the end misplaced in a crushing 6-Zero end on house ice.
The Stars received their revenge this postseason, knocking off the Golden Knights in Recreation 7 within the first spherical.
2024: Misplaced Four-2 to Oilers
New 12 months, completely different workforce, similar outcome.
After falling to Vegas in six video games, Dallas climbed the mountain to succeed in the West Finals once more the following season — solely to fall (once more in six video games) to Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
Many instances within the 2024 season, it felt just like the Stars had all of the items to win the Stanley Cup, together with when the Stars took a 2-1 collection lead in opposition to Edmonton after three video games.
They’d depth with 4 scoring traces, sturdy goaltending in Jake Oettinger, the steadiness of veteran management and younger expertise and a coach with wealthy playoff expertise.
All of it got here to a screeching halt when the Oilers' energy play took flight and Edmonton gained three straight to finish one other Stars season.
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