WESTERN FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 1:
#1 DALLAS STARS vs #2 COLORADO AVALANCHE
Series Tied 0-0
Game time: Saturday May 22nd, 1999 7:30pm at Dallas
The Colorado Avalanche hope to continue their remarkable road success tonight when they open the Western Conference finals against the top-seeded Dallas Stars.
The Avalanche needed six games to advance in each of their first two rounds of the playoffs. They won all three road games in defeating the San Jose Sharks in the quarterfinals and did the same to oust the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.
Colorado was left for dead after losing the first two games against Detroit at home but rallied for four straight wins. The Avs outscored the mighty Red Wings, 19-7, over the final four games.
As the West's top seed, Dallas has home-ice advantage and is a perfect 5-0 at Reunion Arena in the playoffs. But Colorado is an astounding 6-0 on the road in the postseason, outscoring opponents by a 24-11 margin.
The Stars need to find a way to at least slow down Avalanche center Peter Forsberg, who finished the semifinals with four straight two-point games. Forsberg leads all playoff scorers with 17 points. Captain Joe Sakic is tied with right wing Theo Fleury for third in postseason scoring with 14 points.
Dallas swept Edmonton in the first round but all four games were decided by one goal. The Stars had a tougher time against St. Louis in the semifinals but prevailed in six games with four of the contests going to overtime.
Center Mike Modano is the Stars' leading scorer with 11 points and Joe Nieuwendyk is second with nine, including a team-best six goals.
Dallas has scored power-play goals in only three of 10 playoff games and is only 5-for-52 with the man advantage in the postseason. The Avalanche's power-play success depends on where they're playing. Colorado is 5-for-42 at home but 7-for-30 on the road.
Game Two is Monday at Dallas.