The second-round playoff clash in the Western Conference featuring the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche kicks off on Tuesday at the American Airlines Center, commencing at 9:30 p.m. ET.
In the opening round, the Stars secured victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, after a grueling seven-game series. Meanwhile, the Avalanche triumphed over the Winnipeg Jets in five games.
Here are three compelling reasons why Dallas is poised to emerge victorious in this series:
Team defense
The Stars maintain a steadfast and efficient defensive strategy, underpinned by a solid structure. Their forward lineup boasts depth and talent, contributing not only offensively but also diligent in defensive duties. Additionally, Dallas’ defensive unit exhibits agility and reliability in their own zone, blending physicality with skill to generate significant offensive opportunities from the back end.
On the flip side, the Avalanche rely heavily on their speed, often utilizing puck possession as their primary defensive tactic. However, Colorado can be vulnerable defensively, particularly when opponents gain possession, occasionally displaying looseness in their defensive coverage.
Goaltending
Even at the young age of 25, Jake Oettinger has demonstrated remarkable consistency, positioning himself as a potential elite goaltender in the NHL. His impressive performance in the first round against Vegas, boasting a 1.95 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage, speaks volumes about his talent and reliability. Standing opposite Oettinger in the net will be Alexandar Georgiev.
A telling sign of concern arises with Georgiev, evident in his nickname “Four-giev.” Despite securing 38 wins during the regular season, his statistics paint a less flattering picture, with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage, indicating a notable inconsistency in his performance.
Balance
Dallas excels in generating offense while maintaining a strong defensive presence, whereas the Avalanche focus on offensive output but often concede more defensively. Additionally, Dallas boasts a superior goaltender.
