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The puck drops here Devils, Stars begin trek to Holy Grail
Posted: Tuesday May 30, 2000 12:02 PM
JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils each needed the full seven games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. With the teams so evenly matched, another long series could be on tap when they meet for hockey's ultimate prize, beginning Tuesday night at Continental Airlines Arena. Coming off an historic comeback against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference finals, the Devils, who erased a three games to one deficit, are back in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since capturing the only championship in team history in 1995. Since 1967 -- the NHL's first expansion year -- no team had bounced back from such a hole past the second round. The Stars are back to defend their title after ousting the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals for the second year in a row. Dallas can become the third team to win back-to-back titles since 1992, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-1992) and Detroit Red Wings (1997-98). "I think it should be a close series," Devils coach Larry Robinson said. "We both have, I think, really good goaltending and solid lines. Certainly, it should be an exciting series and I hope for hockey's sake that it is a very exciting series." Just one point separated the teams in the regular season, and the difference gives the Devils home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Devils won an overtime game against Florida on the final day of the regular season to finish with 103 points, one more than Stars, who settled for a 2-2 tie with Phoenix on the final day of the regular season. "We haven't faced this scenario for a while, starting on the road," Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said. "I think that trying to win road games, knowing that is the only way you can keep the series alive, is a big challenge for us. So I think the sense of urgency from our group is important." A Stanley Cup Final has not needed seven games since the New York Rangers defeated Vancouver in 1994. In fact, four of the last five ended in sweeps, including the Devils' win against Detroit in 1995. The Stars stopped the string of four-game exits by defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games last June. Brett Hull scored the controversial Stanley Cup-winning goal last spring and leads all playoff scorers this spring with nine goals and 20 points. He proved almost unstoppable against Colorado, totaling five goals and three assists. Right behind Hull is teammate Mike Modano with nine goals and 19 points. New Jersey's main weapon in the playoffs has been the line of Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora and Jason Arnott. Elias leads the Devils with 15 points and scored both goals, including the winner with 2:32 remaining, in Game 7 against Philadelphia. While the Elias-Sykora-Arnott unit has proved explosive, New Jersey's top candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy is Scott Stevens. The rugged defenseman administered vicious open-ice hits that knocked out two Flyers in the conference finals. For the first time in 10 years, the Finals feature two goaltenders with Stanley Cup rings. Martin Brodeur shook off recent playoff failures by limiting the Flyers to three goals during the final three games of their series. Dallas' Ed Belfour may have produced the finest season of his 12-year career. He led the league in save percentage during the season and has allowed one goal or less in six of 17 playoff starts. Dallas won a pair of one-goal games from New Jersey during the regular season, including a 2-1 overtime triumph at Reunion Arena on Oct. 22.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
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