Once more the Edmonton Oilers will face off against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. While both sides are vaguely familiar with each other, focus narrows as the number of teams left standing dwindles.

Let’s take a look at the other side of the aisle to see what Stars fans are saying about their team. 

A one-two punch defensive pairing

Now that Miro Heiskanen has returned, not to mention Jason Robertson’s return as well, the Stars have one of their most important pieces back in the lineup. Injured just prior to the 4 Nations Face-off, things have changed for the Stars since. Over that span Thomas Harley has taken to new heights, perhaps even rivalling Heiskanen. 

Harley was fantastic at the 4 Nations Face-off, which certainly helped his profile. His coach, Pete DeBoer, noticed an increased confidence upon his return. Harley impressed taking on the lead role while Heiskanen was out, looking every bit the part of an elite defenceman. 

The Stars now have two bonafide elite defencemen, perhaps as good of a one-two punch as there is league-wide. The decision might be on whether or not to play them together, as the Stars did against the Winnipeg Jets. No doubt Heiskanen and Harley will be central to the series, and clearly their best options to controlling play against the Oilers. 

Oettinger’s Vezina-level of play

At times this regular season fans might have been less than impressed with Jake Oettinger’s work. Yet to put together a Vezina Trophy season, Oettinger remains a perennial contender for the award. That said, Oettinger has once again saved his Vezina-level play for the playoffs. 

Already highly regarded, and increasingly more accomplished, there are fewer and fewer stratospheres for Oettinger to reach. There is a path for Oettinger to take the reins as the Team USA for next year’s Olympics, just as there might be a path to a Conn Smythe Trophy. The offensively explosive Oilers present a huge test in figuring out if Oettinger is ready to take the next steps. 

Benn keeping things physical

Stars captain Jamie Benn is in the last year of his contract. No longer the top line force he once was, Benn is still a very effective player. That said, Benn still has something of a temper. Over the years there have consistently been moments where Benn has lost his cool during the playoffs, at times putting his team shorthanded.

While the Oilers might be able to goad Benn into some penalty trouble, his antics can also spark the Stars. No longer quite as physically imposing as in years past, Benn is an increasingly large part of how the Stars set the tone of their physicality. The Stars will be hoping that Benn is able to pick his spots effectively as the series wears on, and an early statement might be expected. 

7–11 not just a sponsor, but also a strategy

Not only the Stars helmet sponsor, the team has been using the uneven spread of defencemen and forwards. The Stars have a lot of strong forward options to choose from, but their defensive depth is less elegant. This, and perhaps especially as Heiskanen returns to form, means that seven defencemen has been the logical option for the Stars. 

Behind Heiskanen and Harley, Esa Lindell stands out as the other stalwart option. Right shot veterans Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Alex Petrovic are not universally loved as top-four options, but all can still provide reasonable play in less icetime. Promising and punishing rookie Lian Bischel has been steady, though will climb the depth chart in the years ahead. 

Lead dawg in Moose

The ballad of Mikko Rantanen has been resolved after signing an extension with the Stars. The deal has already paid off handsomely, as Rantanen has nine goals through the first two rounds. The rest of the forwards have yet to truly make their mark, highlighting the importance of having a star scorer. 

On one hand the bulk of the Stars lineup might be coming into the series cold. On the other hand, the rest of the lineup might be due for their hot stretches. With the return of Robertson the Stars will have a lot more to work with, from top centre Roope Hintz to 21-year-old Wyatt Johnston. Needless to say that things revolve around Rantanen, and that having an offensive focal point will make the difference in leading the team further this season. 

Winning the city 

The almighty Dallas Cowboys are thoroughly in offseason mode, and optimism is hardly rampant for the season ahead. Many are tired of quarterback Dak Prescott, while pundits have the Cowboys as the third best team in their division.

The story is a bit different on the court, as the Wings and Mavericks both won draft lotteries to pick first overall. The Mavs had been a disaster, trading away star Luka Doncic in an all-time befuddling move. Paige Bueckers and Cooper Flagg offer some hope for the future, and baseball season is in its early stages, but the team of the moment in Dallas is the Stars. 

No doubt the Stars stable run of recent success will help their popularity in Texas, but reaching the Stanley Cup Final would only amplify that. The Stars have truly embedded themselves, reestablishing themselves as a staple of the NHL landscape under GM Jim Nill. 

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