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In the 2008 edition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the first round Western Conference quarterfinal matchup of the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks at first appeared to be a foregone conclusion. Anaheim was being highly touted as repeat champions, hoisting the Stanley Cup back to back. Enter Game 1. The Dallas Stars have forced the hockey world to stand up and take notice of the little engine that could. Dallas is playing Anaheim into the ground early on in this series, cashing in opportunistically on power play chances, and stifling their offensive creativity.

Mike Ribeiro and Mike Modano, along with Marty Turco and a whole host of other players, have completely made the hockey world acknowledge them as legitimate Cup contenders. Ribeiro, who had a career year in the regular season, has been performing just as well in the playoffs. After being a castoff in the ominous shadows of hockey hotbed Montreal, Mike Ribeiro has shone in the hot sun of Dallas.

Dallas can expect a tough game 5 from the Ducks of Anaheim, and if they are unable to eliminate the Ducks early, then they may become forced to deal with a team that is as resilient as any team ever assembled. Dallas needs to put away the Ducks before allowing them any type of momentum heading into the later games in the series. Dallas seems poised to deliver the knockout punch, but one can never be so certain.

Dallas can expect a much more disciplined game from the Anaheim Ducks than they have been experiencing thus far. The Ducks simply cannot afford to keep the endless parade to the penalty box going. Their penalty kill is insufficient when matched against the power play of Dallas, which is clicking quite nicely.

Marty Turco has shone in the net for Dallas, turning aside Anaheim shots as though they were nothing. Turco has long been a great goaltender, but his reputation has failed him in the playoffs, when he has been seen as ordinary. Remarkable is the way he is currently playing, and if the Dallas Stars are to make any splash in this years quest for the Stanley Cup, Turco, Modano and Ribeiro are going to need to be the key cogs in the wheels.

Learn more about this author, Bobby Coles.
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