The Stanley Cup Playoffs are all about fresh starts, and the Dallas Stars desperately need one. Limping into the postseason on a seven-game skid and now without top scorer Jason Robertson, the Stars open their first-round series Saturday night against a familiar foe – and a familiar face. Only this time, Mikko Rantanen will be wearing the other jersey.
Despite their recent skid, the Stars remain poised for a deep playoff run, facing off against a Colorado squad just two years removed from a Stanley Cup title. It’s a marquee matchup between Western Conference heavyweights, but for Dallas, the challenge is as much about shaking off a slow start as it is about surviving the playoff-tested Avalanche – again.