Does Dallas have edge in second-round series vs. Winnipeg?

The Dallas Stars are in familiar territory.

After a hard-fought opening round series, head coach Pete DeBoer concocted another Game 7 victory against Colorado, setting the stage for Dallas to face the West’s top team, Winnipeg, in the second round.

Will the Stars overcome the Jets and reach a third-straight conference finals? Here’s what out experts say:

Lia Assimakopoulos

Sports Roundup

Before the playoffs began, I chose the Stars to lose in six games in this round to the Jets, but I’m flipping my pick. Winnipeg and Connor Hellebuyck looked shaky in the first round, requiring double overtime in Game 7 to beat the lowest seed in the West. The Stars got better as their series against Colorado progressed. They also haven’t reached their full potential, but should this round with Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson expected to return from injuries. If they can steal one of the first two games at Canada Life Centre, it should be smooth sailing with how Hellebuyck has played on the road. Stars in 6 games.

This was just minutes away (and in Winnipeg’s case two seconds away) from being a St. Louis-Colorado series. But it isn’t. Two teams adept at surviving now clash, and the goaltender advantage that the Jets possess feels like it has been minimized by Connor Hellebuyck’s erratic play in the first round. But Winnipeg remains awfully good at home and will be Dallas’ toughest series the rest of the way. We will see how much Mikko Magic is left in a great playoff. Jets in 7 games.

Kevin Sherrington

The playoffs are, indeed, different from the regular season, where the Jets held a 3-1 advantage over the Stars. Miro Heiskanen’s return also will boost Pete DeBoer’s defense, which occasionally took a beating from the Avs. And the Jets’ playoff history suggests they’re not really up for this. Come to think of it, I think I’ve talked myself into the Stars winning this if they take one of the first two in Winnipeg. Stars in 6 games.

Wednesday’s TV/Radio listings (May 7)