The 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing as teams start their journey to the finals. The Western Conference features some pretty interesting matchups and the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks are just one of them. Dallas barely squeaked into the postseason while Anaheim enters as one of the favorites to win it all.
The Ducks finished the regular season with the Western Conference's top record while winning the Pacific Division title and setting records in the process. They finished one point behind the Boston Bruins in the race for the President's Cup. The Stars took a different route. After missing the postseason for the past five years, they are just happy to have made it. Facing off against the best in the West is certainly not an ideal first round.
The Ducks history in the postseason is not the best. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne has just one playoff round win together since the team won the Stanley Cup back in 2007. The Ducks have not advanced past the first round since 2009, but this could be the year that all change this season. However, the Stars believe they can get past the Ducks considering the team took two of three from Anaheim during the regular season.
The Stars will rely on the tandem of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. The center is looking for redemption after he managed just one goal in 22 games for the Boston Bruins last season. He finished fourth in scoring with 84 points on the season while Benn ended in eighth place with 79 points. Seguin will have this postseason performance highly scrutinized if the young star cannot manage to perform.
This first-round matchup will also feature a reunion with Stephane Robidas. He was traded from the Stars to the Ducks during last month's trading period. The veteran is likely giving up everything he knows about Dallas. As long as Anaheim starts fast and improves their goaltending, the team should have no issues breaking their first-round postseason curse.