Stars Run Over Blues, Reach Stanley Cup Playoffs

THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! (insert big sigh of relief here). The Dallas Stars have put the golf clubs in the back of the closet and put the vacation tickets in the shredder! They are for the first time in 5 years GOING BACK TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!!!! After a dominant performance against one of the league’s best, they proved that they are ready for Game 83. So for all the Dallas Stars fans out there (including all of us at Fansided), we salute you for your many years of endurance and longing! It’s come to an end and we will finally see that glorious logo come back to the blue lines. All together, it’s a good day to be a Stars fan!

1st period

The first period may not seem like it fit in with the rest of the game. Other than a 10-9 shots on net difference, things looked like it was going to be a pretty normal Dallas Stars hockey game and a dog fight to the end. The Stars had a few powerplays in which they had a good number of chances, but a tip of the hat is deserved by Mr. Ryan Miller who saved 37 of 40 against the guys in green. As well as Kari Lehtonen who stopped 22 of 22 and earned his fifth shutout of the season! So after the first period, many Stars fans were still trembling at the knees, wondering how it was all going to pan out. Until the second period came up.

2nd period

Now this is where many Stars fans started to bounce off the walls. At 14:08 left in the second, Trevor Daley (aka the only current Star who was with them the last time they went to the playoffs) scored off a nifty backhand breakaway set up by the Captain, Jamie Benn. This sent the sold out crowd into an uproar and this would’ve been a great time for the green squad to simmer down and forget what they were playing for. But hopefully those days are over. St Louis, who took an astounding 7 penalties tonight, gave one to the Stars with just about 8 minutes left and Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin heading out onto the ice. Do I even have to tell you what happens anymore? Benn feeds another beauty to Miller’s right side where Tyler Seguin gleefully taps it in. (That’s getting old). But this is where the pre playoff butterflies started to flutter in every fan’s stomach and we started to feel that this might actually be real! And then came a last hoorah in the third.

3rd period

This might have been the best game the Stars have played this season. Actually, this was the best game the Stars have played this season, how odd that it would be the one that mattered the most! With 15:33 left in the third, after a plethora of beautiful passes and shots, Alex Goligoski felt the need to take a “happy” shot and blasted one from the blue line. Well who’s stick do you think found it in front of the net? That’s right, Ryan Garbutt’s! This basically ended any doubt fans had of an STL rally and the fireworks began to start (or was that only in my backyard?). Even after this the Stars continued to push and slammed the overall game into St Louis’ face. Oh and where were the STL goals? No goals happen when the BIG FIN is on top of his game. What a fantastic way to start a new fantastic chapter.

So THEY ARE IN. Now after you have finally gotten down from your emotional high (which after 5 years of holding it in, you deserve to let it out) many are wondering what’s next. Well what’s next is the chance to rain on Phoenix’s parade even more! Except the better thing to do would be to save our top guy’s energy for later. Expect to see Tim Thomas in net and maybe even a little line jumbling. They’ve earned their prize and can now sit back and watch it fall into effect. From the look on Lindy’s face when the victory horn went off to Jamie Benn’s post game speech, the night was truly magical from start to finish. So enjoy your night, Dallas fans, as we get set to embark with a great group of young, talented, skillful guys on a journey that is new to most of them as well as some of us. A whopping 11 Stars players have never experienced a playoff game before. But as we saw tonight, there’s a first time for everything! Love all of y’all who have stuck with us and them through the thick and thin. Here’s to the TRUE Dallas Stars fans!!! Your reward begins NOW!!!!

Good night to all of y’all and can’t wait to see all of y’all on the brighter side of the hill!!!!!!

GO STARS! PLAYOFFS 2014!! NEXT UP THE CUP!