Dallas Stars Face Historic Rivalry Revival Against Colorado Avalanche: A Playoff Saga Reignites Passion in DFW Sports Scene
If the second round of the NHL playoffs wasn’t thrilling enough, then the Dallas Stars are up against an old, formidable foe. Yes! As you may recall, I wrote here in the Dallas Observer last month that we’re witnessing some truly rare experiences in the landscape of DFW sports.
The Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Dallas Stars of the NHL have both advanced past the first round of the playoffs in the same season for the first time since 2003.Of course, there will be some very exciting postseason action in the upcoming days and weeks.
It is undoubtedly accurate, particularly in regards to the American Airlines Centre. There are few things more valuable than igniting local passion and anger against a bitter rival like a series of playoff matchups.And once more, that’s just what we got on Tuesday night as the Stars began a seven-game series against the Colorado Avalanche. The formidable Colorado Avalanche, to be precise.
After defeating the reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the playoffs, the local club is now focused on a longtime adversary, and let’s not forget the 2022 Stanley Cup champions.
To be clear, the Avalanche is something I detest. “The Avalanche stands out as the most despised team among the 32 NHL franchises in my book.” But here’s the thing: rivalry makes the game even more enjoyable. They contribute a distinct intensity.Beating them feels good, and perhaps even more importantly, you can’t stand losing to them. And for many of us who have been Dallas Stars fans for years, the Avalanche brings out our best.
I’ve mentioned before how until the end of 1993, hockey wasn’t really on my radar in Dallas. I was a kid, eager about the sport, you know, on ice, in a state that only experiences that kind of chilliness after being shoved into an oven, where only Hansel and Gretel could truly feel it.
At that time, I knew there was an ice rink in the Galleria, but you only went there to see that massive tree during Christmas or to wander around the shops; no kid had money to shop. It wasn’t the kind of place where I could easily go to hone any skills regularly. There was an ice rink in the old Prestonwood Town Center Mall, but it was torn down shortly after the Stars came to town. My point is, when the Stars arrived in Dallas, there wasn’t any ice around for hockey. Instead of sliding on ice and getting into accidents, most of us new hockey lovers hit the streets, mimicking Mike Modano’s moves and pretending to be everywhere.
Undoubtedly, such enthusiasm was fueled by the fact that at that time, the professional team on ice was really good. Modano and fellow All-Stars Derian Hatcher, Guy Carbonneau, Brett Hull, Sergei Zubov, Joe Nieuwendyk, and goaltender Ed Belfour led a powerhouse filled with A-list names from the latter half of the 90s.
AP News:https://apnews.com/