Given that the Dallas Stars are on pace to tie a Dallas franchise best five straight playoff appearances this spring, here we are going to have a brief overview of their first five year playoff streak. From the 1996-1997 season to 2000-2001, this was the first of two (soon to be three) stretches of five straight playoff appearances for Dallas.
1997; the coach and the Russian Rocket
After missing the playoffs in 1996, former Stars head coach/hall of famer Bob Gainey took it on himself to make a change. Resigning his role behind the bench, and passing the baton to Ken Hitchcock. Gainey would stick to his role as general manager.
It wasn’t just a change in coaching that Gainey made. Dallas made a tough, yet important trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Trading physical defenseman Kevin Hatcher for the power play quarterbacking Sergei Zubov to boost the scoring. A trade where both teams got what they wanted. The Penguins wanted another tough guy in the lineup. The Stars got more offensive.
Winning the Pacific division, the Stars got back to the playoffs. Only to be upset by a greasy, blue collar Edmonton Oilers team. Despite the shocker in the first round, the Stars showed the NHL they were just getting started.
1998; Crazy Eddie comes to Dallas
For the Stars next big change to be a Stanley Cup contender, Dallas makes a deal to acquire one of the leagues best, and determined goaltenders. Ed Belfour took over between the pipes, and sparked the Stars to their first of two straight Presidents trophies. The only times Dallas finished the regular season with more points in the standings than any other team.
Losing Joe Nieuwendyk in the first round after a six game series win against the San Jose Sharks would catch up to the Stars later on. While they were able to exact payback against the Oilers in five for round two, the Stars were sent home in six games in the western conference finals at the hands of eventual (repeat) Stanley Cup winners in the Detroit Red Wings.
1999; Nothing Else Matters
Starting off the best season in franchise history, Minnesota North Stars or Dallas, the Stars signed The Golden Brett. After 11 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Brett Hull hopped on over to Dallas. Proving exactly what he was touted to be; the missing piece to the puzzle.
Come June 1999, the Stars finally won the Stanley Cup. Combining a mix of homegrown talent such as Mike Modano, and Jere Lehtinen with the all important signings of guys like Zubov and Hull. It was also Hull who scored not only a Cup clinching triple overtime goal, but a legal one off of a rebound.
Speaking of the right added pieces, it was Nieuwendyk (signed with Dallas in 1996) who took home the Conn Snythe for playoff MVP after the Stars knocked off the Buffalo Sabres in six games.
2000; not a bad encore
Showing that the past season was no fluke, the Stars were a force again. Finishing with the second best record in the west to only the Presidents trophy winning Blues. Winning the Clarence Campbell trophy for the second straight year.
Despite their run, the Stars fell to the New Jersey Devils in six. The series loss was highlighted by going 0-3 at home. Still, it was a memorable season that brought Stars fans ‘The Hullenium.’
2001; the end of an era
The final year of the Stars consecutive streak. It was the end of an era for what is to date the best run in Dallas’ history. A time where Gainey put together a formitable roster that could squeeze in a Stanley Cup title in an era dominated by the Devils, Red Wings, and Avalanche.
While the Stars got past the Oilers in six games in the first round, they went out with a whimper in round two. After getting swept by the Blues. It was the end of an era that will be remembered fondly by Stars fans. Five straight Pacific division titles, and of course that silver Holy Grail.
Photo credit: alchetron.com
Once a champion, always a champion. Dallas fans will never have to worry about whether or not their team will ever have won a Stanley Cup in their franchise history. A luxury many fans of other teams wish they had.
Featured photo: hockeygods.com
Tags: #Belfour #GoldenAge #Hull #Modano #NHL #Playoffs #StanleyCup #TexasHockey #Zubov hitchcock
Categorized:Stars