Series Breakdown: Sharks vs. Stars
By Brian Engblom
Special to ESPN.com
After the No. 8 Sharks upset the Blues, the Stars now have home-ice advantage through the conference finals. But against the Sharks, a team that won twice in Dallas this season, it may not be that big an advantage. Check out which team has the edge, and then see what I think the outcome will be.
Matching up 5-on-5
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The Stars thrive on 5-on-5 situations. They are so conscientious
defensively. They take the lanes away and control the environment as much
as possible. Plus, they have much more experience. The most intriguing matchup will be Owen Nolan against Stars defensemen Derian Hatcher and Richard Matvichuk. Nolan had a strong series against St. Louis with six goals and played like a team captain should play in Game 7. It will be physical when Nolan meets up with Hatcher and Matvichuk. |
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Special teams
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Special-teams momentum means a lot in the playoffs. The Sharks have had more success with their power play in the playoffs than the Stars have. The Sharks have scored six
power-play goals to only two for Dallas. However, the Stars had one of the best-ever
penalty-killing units during the regular season. We'll have to see whether
the Stars' penalty-killing or the Sharks' power play will win out. If the
Sharks score six power-play goals against Dallas, they can win the
series. I prefer a controlled environment in the playoffs, so I would give a
small edge to Dallas. Sergei Zubov should be back, which will help the
Stars. |
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Goaltending
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Steve Shields showed a lot against St. Louis. He has now won two Game 7s in
a young career and has a tremendous amount of momentum. But Ed Belfour is
the defending Cup champ with vast playoff experience. I still
think you have to go with the more experienced goalie. He has had a
terrific season and only lost one game against Edmonton. |
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Intangibles
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Based on momentum, you have to award an edge to San Jose. The Sharks really
pulled off a big upset in Round 1 and deserved that victory in Game
7. They outplayed the Blues, and their big players stood out. The Sharks are
on the edge of the wave and want to keep riding it. Plus, they were
4-2 against the Stars during the regular season and won two out of three in Dallas. That just adds to the Sharks' momentum.
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PREDICTION
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Stars in six. I like the Stars because of their consistency and level
of play. They are so patient and play a steadier game. You also can't discount their experience in winning the Cup a year ago. Dallas can wear out the more volatile Sharks. San Jose can be tough and nasty, but I like Dallas' odds in a long series.
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Brian Engblom, a former NHL star with Montreal, serves as an NHL analyst for ESPN and ABC.
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