Stars look to change script in Stanley Cup Playoffs against Golden Knights

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars will face a familiar opponent to begin the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Vegas Golden Knights, who eliminated them last season in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final.

“I don’t think you make a big deal about it, but you also don’t dismiss it," Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "It’s the team that ended your season, that went on to win the Stanley Cup, which was our goal last year. I think it’s not all-encompassing on us, but it’s definitely there, and you don’t ignore that. That’s part of our history and our journey as a group.

“Having said that, we’re both different teams this year.”

When the two last faced off Dec. 9 in a 6-1 Vegas win, the Golden Knights were sitting atop the West and the Stars were in a three-way fight for top of the Central Division. By late in the regular season, however, Dallas had clinched the top seed in the conference, while Vegas was in a fight for third in the Pacific Division up until the last game. The Golden Knights lost 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday to fall to the second wild card and draw the Stars as their opponent in the first round.

Injuries and trades changed the complexion of both teams since they last played, with them finally meeting again in Game 1 at Dallas on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, BSSW, SCRIPPS).

Vegas added defenseman Noah Hanifin and forwards Anthony Mantha and Tomas Hertl prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 8 and have had several players spend considerable time on the injured list. Dallas acquired defenseman Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames a week before the Deadline and on March 2 called up rookie forward Logan Stankoven, who burst onto the scene with eight points (five goals, three assists) in his first six NHL games.

“The bones of that team are the same. They’re going to play the same style, they’re going to play with the same identity,” Stars forward Matt Duchene said of the Golden Knights. “We know what to expect there, and I’m sure they’re thinking the same thing on the other side. They’re playing maybe a little different level than they were. They’ve also got a lot of new guys coming in. They could elevate, they could be where they’ve been at the last little bit. At the end of the day, we’re going to be ready for anything. We’re going to be ready for their best and expect their best, because that’s the type of team they have.”

Though the Golden Knights finished as the second wild card this season, Stars forward Tyler Seguin believes Vegas is a better team than what the standings say. Dallas is expecting a close series, much like the one last season, which had three games decided in overtime.

“Every series is hard in the playoffs," Seguin said. "It doesn’t matter where you finish. For a first-round matchup, it should be pretty exciting."

The similar blend of size and skill that both teams possess should create intriguing matchups all over the ice throughout the series.

“I think it’s going to be an absolute war on the ice for space and time," DeBoer said. "Not necessarily drop the gloves, but you’ve got two big, heavy, hard teams that are both trying to get to the net front and protect their net front. It’s going to be a big, heavy, hard series. At the same time, there’s a lot of speed and skill on both teams too. You get to the playoffs like this, you get the best 16 teams in the League, you’re getting great hockey and there’s not a lot of weaknesses to poke in anybody’s teams that you’re playing.”

For Dallas to achieve its goal of winning the Stanley Cup, it will need to change the way the story ends this time against Vegas. Seguin believes his team is ready for the challenge.

“When you have a goal of going all the way, a lot of times you have to get through the defending champs,” Seguin said. “I think when you win anything in life, you want the biggest challenge. It always makes it the sweetest.”