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Dallas Stars Playoff Push: Examining Potential First Round Opponents

By Josh Clark

WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 25: Blake Comeau #15 of the Dallas Stars and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets keep an eye on the play during first period action at the Bell MTS Place on March 25, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 25: Blake Comeau #15 of the Dallas Stars and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets keep an eye on the play during first period action at the Bell MTS Place on March 25, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 7: Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars battles between Ryan Ellis #4 and Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on February 7, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 7: Tyler Seguin #91 of the Dallas Stars battles between Ryan Ellis #4 and Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on February 7, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /

2. Nashville Predators

Record: 44-29-6, 94 points, 40 ROW

Chances of playing the Stars in first round (according to The Athletic): 33 percent

On Jan. 1, 2020, the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators will square off at the Cotton Bowl in the first-ever Winter Classic in the south. It’s a game that’s expected to be filled with flair and showcase one of the NHL’s budding rivalries.

And if the two teams can get a playoff series in before the big game to further spark the hatred and bad blood, so be it.

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    • The Stars and Predators put together one of the more thrilling regular season series during the 2018-19 campaign. The series actually ended in a tie, with both Dallas (2-1-2) and Nashville (3-2-0) picking up six points for their efforts. But the record only gives a small glimpse into just how exciting the series was.

    It all started on Nov. 10 in Dallas with the Stars dropping a 5-4 overtime loss to the Predators. Nashville had mounted a late comeback to tie the game against a battered Dallas defense that was running on a skeleton crew (Joel Hanley, Ben Gleason, and Dillon Heatherington were all in the lineup).

    Fast forward six weeks to Dec. 27 and the two clubs were in Nashville to kick off post-Christmas play against each other. Anton Khudobin etched his name all over the history books in that game, posting a 49-save shutout while Tyler Pitlick and Mattias Janmark scored to secure the 2-0 victory.

    Feb. 2 offered much of the same stuff as the Dallas Stars were back in Nashville for a third bout. The Stars picked up a 3-1 victory that included a late rally and a fantastic 38/39 performance by Khudobin. The two teams once again met up at Bridgestone Arena just six days later, with the Predators claiming a 3-2 overtime win. The season series ended on Feb. 19 in Dallas with a 5-3 win by Nashville.

    In each of those exciting games, there was a storyline to follow. There were different heroes, plenty of energy, and all the makings of a potential rivalry.

    That’s what makes a playoff series so much more enticing. The Predators and Stars could potentially dominate the viewership of the opening round and create a series that would be must-see TV.

    It’s two solid defensive clubs with confident veteran goaltenders and a desire to further prove themselves as a live and legitimate non-traditional hockey market.

    But, unlike the Jets, this would be a much more playoff-hardened opponent for the Stars. Nashville has qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past four seasons and has been to the Stanley Cup Final once.

    The Predators only have three games remaining on their regular season schedule, giving the Jets the upper hand in terms of potential points gained. But with a visit to Buffalo being followed by a two-game homestand against Vancouver and Chicago, it looks like a relatively easy path to the finish line for the Predators.

    One thing is sure, though: Dallas against Nashville would be quite the sight to see.

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