The Dallas Stars are The Dallas Express Team of the Week after securing their first Western Conference regular-season championship in 21 years.
Dallas has been performing exceptionally well, winning 12 of their last 14 games to conclude the regular season. This streak was concluded with a 2-1 comeback victory against the St. Louis Blues in a shootout to clinch secure the conference title and close out the regular season on Wednesday night after facing strong defense from goalie Jordan Binnington.
“It was a tough match,” forward Jason Robertson told the media after the game. “I thought we had numerous scoring opportunities, but that’s to be expected in the playoffs. You’re going to exchange opportunities. I believe their goalie performed admirably. Dealing with a hot goalie is common in the playoffs. So, I think our goal that we did score was a prime example of what you’ll need to do to score against a hot goalie and a solid defensive team.”
Dallas will take on the defending Stanley Cup champion, the Vegas Golden Knights, in the first round in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, which Vegas won won four games to two.
“I don’t think you make a big fuss about it, but you also don’t disregard it,” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told the media on Friday. “It’s the team that ended your season and the team that went on to win the Stanley Cup, which was our goal last year. You don’t overlook that. It’s a part of our history and our journey as a group.”
One reason Dallas clinched the West was the improved depth in its roster. When examining each line, it’s challenging to identify a weakness, and last year’s series against Vegas influenced that.
“There was a substantial commitment on [general manager] Jim [Nill]’s part over the summer to try and narrow that gap, and I think the results of our season confirm that,” DeBoer stated. “We were the total of our parts. We weren’t a one-line team. We didn’t depend on a player with over a hundred points or a couple of players with over a hundred points. We were built around our depth, and that’s what will carry us in the playoffs.”
The Stars’ depth will be put to the test against a Vegas team that is beginning to regain its health. Game 1 is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on Monday at the American Airlines Center.
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