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Reactions: Stars vs. Devils Users defend their selections for Stanley Cup victor
Posted: Tuesday May 30, 2000 08:14 PM
CNNSI.com asked users to tell us which team they thought would win the Stanley Cup. A sampling of your responses follows: Dallas! Dallas in seven. Dallas has the stars (pun not intended), they have the experience, they have the solid goaltending of Belfour, and the intelligence of their coach. If the Stars can improve their powerplays and find a hole in N.J.'s penalty killing defense, they'll take it in five or six games.
Dallas will win simply because they will be a hungrier team because of the fact they want to repeat. New Jersey is a bonified contender but Dallas will persevere in part through sheer talent. Unless of course Stevens knocks a few of the Stars to the "Stars." Dallas in six.
I can almost guarantee that Dallas will prevail and go on to make it a three-peat next year. It's written in the stars! Superior play by a superior team from a superior city is more than any foe can withstand.
Dallas will win in six. Belfour has everything to prove. He has been underrated for too long. Now is his chance to prove all of the skeptics wrong. New Jersey will not be able to keep up with Modano, Hull and Nieuwendyk on offense. Dallas is way too deep for New Jersey to control.
The Dallas Stars will win their second Cup in as many seasons. The reason is simple, they find a way to win. Dallas just has that knack for getting goals, saves, and blocking shots when they need it. Call it luck, call it veteran leadership, call it anything you wish. The bottom line is, someone on this club is always going to come up big, and you just can't prepare yourself to play against that.
I give the Stars the edge in goaltending, coaching and offensive weapons.
They came alive in game six and seven of the Colorado series and I look for them to continue that momentum against the Devils.
I have to go with Dallas to win this series. My argument for this case is that Dallas has the better defence of the two, and if Modano or Hull can get a quick goal in the first period, it will then be up to the team's defence to shut down the offence of the Devils. It worked for the Panthers when they shocked Hockey fans during their march to the finals. But can the Stars go all the way? I think they'll do it in 6 games.
New Jersey! I would like for the Devils to win because they have a tough, struggling defense that can and will hurt you. Stay alert Stars or else!
Look for Claude Lemieux and Scott Stevens to knock Brett Hull and Mike Modano into next season.
The Devils will win. In 1995, the Devils won, sweeping a Detroit team that everyone thought was incredible. I'm not calling for a sweep, the Stars are too good of a team. However, the Devils' mix of speed, size, forechecking, defense, aggression and, of course, goaltending, makes them the winner of this series.
I am glad that the Devils were and are the underdogs throughout these playoffs. Look where being so got them five years back! And, in the years where they were highly rated, they did not go far. I think the advantage is with Devils this year, because they seem to have their feet on the ground, and have come through very well in adversity. Let the pundits keep touting the Stars' big stars.
Have you heard of the ex-Cub factor? Meet it's beloved cousin, the ex-Black Hawk factor. Dallas' roster includes defensemen Manson and Cote, as well as goaltender Belfour. No ex-Black Hawks play for New Jersey. That's three wins for New Jersey (for starters). Throw in a Dallas win at home (as a courtesy to the defending champs). Devils in five. Case closed.
The Devils will win in 5. Dallas will be left thinking about the freight train (Scott Stevens) that just hit them.
I am a biased NJ resident, but up and down the Devils are stronger. Eddie the Eagle has played tremendously, but Martin is the real deal and when it comes to crunch time he is a wall. The Devils play bruising hockey, just ask Primeau and Lindros who they think will win. The Devils also have youth that play beyond their years which will make the difference as this series grinds it's way out. All that and Pepe Lemieux too. No easy task, but Devils in seven.
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