The Stars return to the playoffs Thursday night. How long they stick around – a series, two, four perhaps – will be determined by many things and, yes, the decision Coach Lindy Ruff makes with his Finnish goaltenders is an important one.
But it doesn’t need to be the biggest factor. In fact, it really can’t afford to be.
The Stars face the Minnesota Wild, and it’s an opponent they should beat although the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues felt likewise the last two years before being dismissed in the opening round.
I’d go with Antti Niemi to give the Stars a new playoff look, but it’s not like it’s an outrageous call if Kari Lehtonen ends up in the net.