Dallas Stars: Who To Cheer For In Second Round Of Stanley Cup Playoffs
The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is well underway and there’s plenty of exciting action to follow between the eight teams remaining. But which team should Dallas Stars fans cheer for?
It’s a good time to be a Dallas Stars fan.
With the Stars not qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s no repetitive heartbreak or panic attacks for Stars fans to suffer through.
But, on the other hand, there’s no chance at a Stanley Cup. So I guess you could call it bittersweet.
Since last Wednesday, the NHL has been lively with the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in full swing. Four series (Nashville vs. St. Louis, Anaheim vs. Edmonton, New York Rangers vs. Ottawa, and Pittsburgh vs. Washington) have kept hockey fans tuned in and entertained over the past week.
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Pucks and Pitchforks
There have been amazing comebacks, shocking upsets, and some beautiful goals scored in the process. In fact, this second round has a good shot at besting the first round in terms of enjoyability.
But since the second round began, you may be asking yourself what team you should pledge your playoff loyalty to. At the beginning of the playoffs, Blackout Dallas put up a post detailing which of the starting 16 teams you might have wanted to lean in favor of.
But now eight of those teams are home for the summer. Let’s take a look at the remaining eight teams and give you a brief rundown of each so you can make an educated decision from there on who to root for.
Anaheim Ducks
Pros: The biggest pro with Anaheim is that they have Patrick Eaves, and that could mean great things for the Stars. Not only is he a fan favorite in Dallas with his lovable personality and luxurious beard, but the trade that sent him to Anaheim could be paying off big time for the Stars.
If the Ducks advance to the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Stars will receive Anaheim’s first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft instead of their second-round pick. That would be a huge steal for the Stars.
Cons: It’s the Ducks. Ever since the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Anaheim has been one of the least popular teams around the Dallas area (competing with Chicago, Minnesota, and St. Louis). There’s a good chance that if you have been a Stars fan for more than three years, you wouldn’t mind seeing Corey Perry get checked into the third row. That’s just the way things are.
If you want to cheer for Anaheim and Patrick Eaves, more power to you. But don’t be shocked if a Stars fan accuses you of not having a soul.
Edmonton Oilers
Pros: Consider them the Cinderella team in the Western Conference. Coming into the year, no one expected much out of Edmonton. The biggest highlight of the past ten years for their franchise was four different #1 picks in the NHL Entry Draft.
They are a young and fast team with a lot of talent and a knack for scoring. They might even remind you of the 2015-16 Dallas Stars. The Oilers have been waiting for this chance for a long time. Whether you want to cheer for them or not, one thing is for sure: they’re fun to watch.
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St. Louis Blues
Pros: Next question.
Cons: They are the team that crushed the Dallas Stars’ dreams in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs by humiliating them on home ice in a deciding game seven. Not to mention that they still have Ryan Reaves and are one of the Stars’ biggest Central Division rivals. Cheer for them if you want, but don’t come crying to us when someone strips you of your “Stars fan” title.
Nashville Predators
Pros: The Preds are a young-gun team sort of like the Oilers. There is a lot of talent to go around and they have put together quite an amazing run. They were the first team in professional sports history to sweep a one-seed while being the eight-seed. And that one-seed was the Chicago Blackhawks, which makes it even better.
Cons: Another Central Division rival for Dallas. Though the dislike isn’t as severe as it is between the Stars and some other Central teams, it still wouldn’t be the most pleasurable sight seeing a team in your own division raise the Cup.
Washington Capitals
Pros: The Caps are trying to get over the second round hump that has held them down for years. For the past two years, they have finished with the best record in the NHL. Yet they have not been past the second round since 1998.
They are one of the more exciting teams in the NHL and could very well have a player on their team who could be a Dallas Star next year (*cough* T.J. Oshie or Philipp Grubauer *cough*). If you like fast action, Ovi slap shots, and a team trying to overcome a slump, choose Washington.
Cons: Not a whole lot to look at here. They’re a good team and show it each season. If you have some beef with Ovi then maybe. But besides that, they don’t really have a quality that makes them the “bad” guy.
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Pittsburgh Penguins
Pros: They have Trevor Daley, and all Dallas Stars fans love them some Trevor Daley. Pittsburgh has treated him well, too by getting him his first ring last year. If you love old time Stars, the Penguins might be your team.
Cons: The Pens might be considered one of the Stars’ biggest rivals in the Eastern Conference. Whatever the reason may be, the Stars-Pens game always seem to be rather vigorous and intense. Maybe it’s because of the excessive number of Penguins fans in the crowd at the AAC.
Not to mention that Pittsburgh just won it last year. If you are a fan of not sticking to the same old pattern (like the NBA) when it comes to the championship, you are probably cheering for Washington right now.
Ottawa Senators
Pros: The Senators totally came out of left field this year. They’ve only qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in two of the past four years, and finished second in the Atlantic Division this year. After pulling off an impressive series win over the Bruins in round one, they have showed some serious grit against the Rangers in the semifinals. They currently lead the series 2-1.
Their games have been exciting to watch and follow, and this team could be the one that shocks everyone and goes the distance. It’s not hard to root for them, either.
Cons: Unless you’re still mad about that own goal that the Stars scored against the Senators (which wasn’t Ottawa’s fault), you probably don’t have much beef against the Sens. Go ahead and cheer for them if you want. You have our blessing.
New York Rangers
Pros: They’re fast-paced, they wear red, white, and blue (‘Merica), and Henrik Lundqvist is always a joy to watch. Plus you can stare at Antti Raanta on the bench and dream about what might be this coming offseason considering he is one of the Stars’ many protected targets to take over the crease.
Cons: Not many that come to mind. They work hard just like the other teams and play the game with emotion. This series really is a toss up for Dallas Stars fans.
As you can see, there’s plenty to keep up with regarding the final eight teams chasing the Stanley Cup. But now you have the information on each team from a Stars’ fans perspective. You can cheer for one, two, or even all eight if you want. Or none if you want to wrap yourself entirely in Stars’ pride.
Next: Stars Should Look To Columbus For New Goaltender
Hopefully this helps you make your decision. Make sure to keep up with the exciting action as it continues to unfold in what is shaping up to be a postseason to remember.