From The Silky Mitten State: After two back-and-forth games in Dallas, do the Stars have enough depth to persevere through Colorado's playoff nerve?
Twice in the first two games of their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars have raced out to a lead, and twice, the Avs have stormed back. In Game 1, it was enough to take an overtime victory on a goal from Miles Wood. In Game 2, Dallas held firm late despite some nervous moments and clinched a 5-3 via an Esa Lindell empty-net goal with 21 seconds to play.
May 9, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) scores a shorthanded goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines CenterOn the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State (recorded after Game 1), Connor Earegood and I broke down our expectations for the series, revolving around the question of whether Dallas' depth up front and on the blue line is enough to overcome the Avalanche's playoff mettle.
I make the case that the Stars have the deepest, most difficult to match up with roster, in the league, with a nice balance of playoff experience in players like Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter as well as young talents like Logan Stankoven and Wyatt Johnson. Throw in a bona fide superstar in his prime like Miro Heiskanen, and you've got a lot to reckon with.
Meanwhile, Connor points to the playoff experience and nerve of Avs stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. That combination of elite skill and playoff know how helped power both comebacks, even if only one proved successful.
You can catch a sample of our conversation in the video above. Check out the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: