Round 2 predictions here

Round 3 predictions here


The Cup is on the line as Dallas and Buffalo get ready to face off. The Stars had to rally against Colorado to take the series while Buffalo has quietly moved through the East and dispatched of the Leafs fairly easily in the Eastern final.

I was wrong in the West and right in the East in the last set of predictions, bringing my total to an impressive 11-3 thus far in the playoffs. I'm not making any promises, but it'll be Dallas in 5 in my view.

BUFFALO SABERS V.S. DALLAS STARS

Overview:
These two teams have been on the brink of greatness the last few years but this will mark the first trip to the final for both clubs in a while and the first for the Stars since they left Minnesota. In all honesty, don’t expect a thrilling series and Dallas plays a tight defensive game and Buffalo has the world’s greatest goaltender in goal. Still, Hasek should make enough highlight reel saves to make it worth watching.

Buffalo at a glance:
The Sabers have taken out the two canadian clubs and the Bruins so far in the playoffs and they’ve done it as a team. Although the common perceptions is that this team relies on Hasek and Hasek alone, this year it’s been a team effort so far which explains why they’ve made it so far. Miroslav Satan scored the quietest 40 goals in recent memory this year and Mike Peca is the best defensive center in the game. Peca will be assigned to shut down Mike Modano this series and will frequently be double shifted so that he faces Joe Niewendyk every now and then as well. But regardless of the team, they’ll need Hasek to single handedly steal then 2 or 3 games if they hope to advance.

Dallas at a glance:
No this is not the Montreal Canadiens alumni. The Stars which feature former Montreal grinders Mike Keane, Brian Skrudland, Craig Ludwig, Guy Carboneau and general manager Bob Gainey are clearly built in Gainey’s imagine and of course feature many good defensive grinders. Derian Hatcher will anchor the defense and Dallas is counting on Hatcher to shut down Satan and Peca they way he shut down Forsberg over the last 2 games of the Western Final, two games Dallas won. Up front, Modano, Niewendyk and Brett Hull will be expected to carry the offense. Hull has been quiet so far but he had so many chances against the Av’s that it’s clear he’s ready to explode big time against the Sabers. In goal, Ed Belfore has kept his cool and as a result is a leading Conn Smythe Trophy candidate.

Buffalo will win if: they take the opening game to stop talk of a sweep.

Dallas will win if: Hasek doesn’t get really, really hot.

Prediction: Hasek will steal 1 game, that’s it. Dallas in 5.