Well Well Well, We Meet Again

 After taking a year off, it is once again Stars vs. Predators in the playoffs. A matchup that has happend 6 of the last 7 years. As a rival executive stated, "It's just not the playoffs without a Stars vs. Predators matchup. 

 Lets look at how the team stack up in this years version.

 Most regular season stats tip toward the Stars and the regular season matchups went 2-1-1 towards the Sharks. The Stars were led, as they had for the whole season in these matchups by the best line in EHE this season and one of the best of all time. Kaprizov had 9 points (4g,5A) Pasta had 8 points (3G,5A) and Lindholm had 7 points (2G,5A). It was no suprise that it was this line carrying the to a commanding 1st round series win in 5 games, with all 3 scoring 6 plus points.

 During the season the PP was humming year long for the Stars and they continued to go during Round 1, converting at a 30% clip against the Avs. But it was the PK that saved the Stars. During the regular season, they were the worst PK unit of the teams in the Playoffs and they turned it into nearly a 94% kill percentage (Killing 15 of 16 penalties). In a series that was only seperated by 5 goals, the special teams of the Stars outscoring the Avs by 5 goals was the difference. They will need this same production against Connor McDavid and the rest of the Preds if the Stars want to keep this run going. 

 The third facet of the game that can sway the series will be the goaltending and both teams got great result from their tendies. Marc-André Fleury cam into his final season and final playoffs never having one a series in his career. The outside noise was loud coming into the first round but MAF didn't hear it. He shut down the Avs to the tune of a 1.78 GAA and a .931 SV%. He was never the sole reason his teams weren't advancing, but he also wasn't stealing any series either. Coming off a season in which he had his second most wins of his career, and most since 2015-16, he hasn't looked tired at all. Stars fans and MAF are hoping that there are a few more masterclasses like this one for the goalie that will retire as the 2nd most winningest goalie in EHE regular season history. 

 Of the 3 GM's to correctly pick this matchup, 2 went the way of the Predators, and only 1 choose these Dallas Stars. The Stars are hoping to replicate their success from last playoff matchup in 2023 between these two teams in which they won in 6 but the Predators will be looking to bite back, especially after trading for their former face of the franchise and then jettisoning him soon after.

Stephen Gough

Poor Nashville, i am sure the Stars are in their heads lol

Well Well Well, We Meet Again
Familiar foes and fierce rivals once again run into each other in the Playoffs

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