Buffalo Sabres Vs. Dallas Stars

It was a great 1st round series between Buffalo and Detroit. 7 games decided by a goal. The Sabres overcame a 3-2 series deficit to finally win it in 7. It was quite a scare for the Presidents’ Trophy winners and they will enter the 2nd round a humbled group. This is the 3rd meeting in 4 springs between these 2 teams, the Sabres won the first 2 and they hope to do it again. The Sabres star offensive players carried them in round 1 – Kovalchuk, Staal, Doughty, Langenbrunner and Carter all posted PPG numbers or better. However, 10 skaters had 1 point or less, which is not acceptable. The Sabres need more from their supporting cast against a Dallas team that has 4 solid lines. In goal, Martin Brodeur was solid against Detroit and that will need to continue.

3 KEY FACTORS:

• Who wins the battle between the strong Sabres PP and the good Stars PK?
• As mentioned, the Sabres NEED more from the 3rd and 4th lines offensively. It could be the difference in this series.
• Dallas had the 2nd best GF in round 1. The Sabres will have to be alert defensively and Martin Brodeur will have to play strong hockey.

Few, if any, expected the Dallas Stars to beat the Anaheim Ducks in round 1. But the playoffs are awesome for a reason: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. We saw proof of it in that series as Dallas brought down Anaheim in 6. It doesn’t get any easier for the Stars though, they now face a team they went 1-3 against in the regular season AND were swept by last spring in the playoffs. Revenge will be on their minds. The Stars are usually a team that relies on defence, but in round 1, their offence carried them as they scored 4.17 goals per game. Ribeiro and Fisher had 8 points, while Stillman and Sullivan had 7 each. This Stars team can roll 4 lines with the best of them, the 4th line of Armstrong-Pahlsson-Ward is a heck of a 4th line. The top 4 on defence isn’t incredible, but Wideman-Gleason-Ballard-Gilbert get it done. In goal, Brian Elliott was OK in round 1 and will have to be much better against Buffalo.

3 KEY FACTORS:

• For Dallas to win, their bottom 6 forwards have to dominate Buffalo’s bottom 6 forwards because the Sabres top players are better than the Stars’ top players.
• Does Dallas have the goods to stop Buffalo’s potent blueline?
• Brian Elliott. He will be tested and he is going up against a legend. A strong series from him is a must.

Prediction: The Stars will give Buffalo a strong battle. But Buffalo’s star power will prevail in the end in a close series. Sabres in 6.