STANLEY CUP FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 6:
#1 DALLAS STARS vs #7 BUFFALO SABRES
Dallas leads 3-2
Game time: Saturday June 19th, 1999 8pm at Buffalo
The Dallas Stars have an opportunity to take home hockey's ultimate prize for the first time in franchise history tonight when they face the Buffalo Sabres in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Stars finished as the top team during the regular season which recently has turned out to be the kiss of the death in the playoffs. But Dallas swept Edmonton, defeated St. Louis in six games in the conference semfinals before taking care of Colorado in the conference finals.
The Dallas-Minnesota franchise has made two other trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the New York Islanders in 1981, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.
The Stars won pivotal Game Five, 2-0, on Thursday behind Ed Belfour's third shutout this postseason. This series has beared a close resemblance to the regular season with Dallas smothering Buffalo throughout. The Sabres are averaging under 20 shots per game, totaling just 53 in the last three games.
Belfour has silenced many of his critics with his play in this series, allowing just eight goals to 11 for counterpart Dominik Hasek.
If the Stars win tonight, Joe Nieuwendyk would have to be the favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the playoffs. Nieuwendyk is tied with teammate Mike Modano for second in the league with 21 points but Nieuwendyk has a remarkable six game-winning goals.
The Sabres got excellent production from their power play in the first three rounds of the playoffs but have struggled recently against Dallas. Buffalo is 3-for-24 overall in the Finals but has failed to capitalize on its last 17 chances.
Should the Sabres win tonight, Game Seven would be Tuesday in Dallas.