Colorado Avalanche #7 vs. Dallas Stars #2
This year's game is a far different affair than the one practiced in 2004, but this one, first-round playoff matchup between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche is identical to the one between the two teams two years ago.
"Two years plus the lockout equals fresh beginnings," goaltender Marty Turco said after backing up Johan Hedberg in a season-closing 5-4 spread overtime loss Tuesday to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Stars and Avalanche will open their best-of-7 series at American Airlines Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. (Ch. 5). That five-game loss to Colorado in the first round in 2004 is more of a footnote to this series, rather than a preview, they said.
"It's definitely in the back of our minds that we lost to them the last time," center Jason Arnott said. "They are a different team. So are we."
Of the two, Colorado has changed the most with the departure of Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, the hiring of coach Joel Quenneville and the acquisition of goaltender Jose Theodore.
Then, Colorado bounced Dallas in five games, outscoring the Stars, 19-10. Now, the teams are ready for the rematch and all Sportsbook odds are on Dallas, although much has changed -- especially in Colorado.
The Avalanche has undergone dramatic changes from the team that advanced at Dallas' expense two years ago. Center Peter Forsberg is gone, fleeing to Philadelphia as a free agent. Defenseman Adam Foote is also missing, relocating to Columbus.
Goalie David Aebischer meanwhile was judged lacking and sent to Montreal in exchange for Jose Theodore, a player the team hopes will follow in the footsteps of legendary goalie Patrick Roy. Those are just some of the major changes during the past two years that have afflicted the Avs, who have battled injuries all year while scuffling to an unaccustomed seventh-place finish.
Dallas, meanwhile, is pretty much the same team that suffered the bitter fate of exiting in the first round two years ago. This season, the NHL Stars have been one of the most dominant teams in the League.
Their 112 points are tied for the third-highest total in the League and they won the very competitive Pacific Division by 13 points. But Dallas knows that those accomplishments mean little heading into the second season, especially after the first-round exit in 2004 and a second-round exit the year before that.
"Two years plus the lockout equals fresh beginnings," goaltender Marty Turco said after backing up Johan Hedberg in a season-closing 5-4 spread overtime loss Tuesday to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Stars and Avalanche will open their best-of-7 series at American Airlines Center on Saturday at 2 p.m. (Ch. 5). That five-game loss to Colorado in the first round in 2004 is more of a footnote to this series, rather than a preview, they said.
"It's definitely in the back of our minds that we lost to them the last time," center Jason Arnott said. "They are a different team. So are we."
Of the two, Colorado has changed the most with the departure of Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, the hiring of coach Joel Quenneville and the acquisition of goaltender Jose Theodore.
Then, Colorado bounced Dallas in five games, outscoring the Stars, 19-10. Now, the teams are ready for the rematch and all Sportsbook odds are on Dallas, although much has changed -- especially in Colorado.
The Avalanche has undergone dramatic changes from the team that advanced at Dallas' expense two years ago. Center Peter Forsberg is gone, fleeing to Philadelphia as a free agent. Defenseman Adam Foote is also missing, relocating to Columbus.
Goalie David Aebischer meanwhile was judged lacking and sent to Montreal in exchange for Jose Theodore, a player the team hopes will follow in the footsteps of legendary goalie Patrick Roy. Those are just some of the major changes during the past two years that have afflicted the Avs, who have battled injuries all year while scuffling to an unaccustomed seventh-place finish.
Dallas, meanwhile, is pretty much the same team that suffered the bitter fate of exiting in the first round two years ago. This season, the NHL Stars have been one of the most dominant teams in the League.
Their 112 points are tied for the third-highest total in the League and they won the very competitive Pacific Division by 13 points. But Dallas knows that those accomplishments mean little heading into the second season, especially after the first-round exit in 2004 and a second-round exit the year before that.
posted by Colorado-Avalanche at 12:27 PM
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