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 Your Take Stars or Sabres? Who will bring home the Cup?
Posted: Thursday June 17, 1999 12:08 AM
CNN/SI asked visitors the question that's on every hockey fan's mind: who's going to be the last team standing? We received hundreds of responses from users on both sides of the ice with some of the most interesting ones below.
The Stars will win because of the tough road they have had the last few
years with Detroit and Colorado. They know what it takes to win and
probably want it a little more than Buffalo. It will be a little tougher
though without a healthy Modano and Hull. Stars in 7.
Dallas is a team of veterans that like to play a defense-oriented game and
force teams into making mistakes. Buffalo is a scrappy team that has a lot
of speed. Dallas can't handle speed. St. Louis was proof of that. Also,
Buffalo has had a terrific power play in the playoffs while Dallas has
below average. If Hasek is able to play every game and Buffalo can keep
Dallas from completely dominating the face-offs, they will win
convincingly. Buffalo in six.
Although Dominic Hasek is arguably the best goalie in the league, the
Sabres lack the offensive talent as well as defensive strategy that Dallas
has come to master. Dallas has proven goal scorers in Hull, Modano,
Neuwendiek, and Lagenbrunner, as well as muckers with experience such as Mike Keane. With talent like
this the Stars work the neutral ice trap better than any other team in the
league including Buffalo.
Is there any question? The Dallas Stars are going to
crush the Buffalo Sabres.
It is no different than when the New York Rangers dominated
the league in 94 and the upstart Vancouver Canucks tried to
take the cup away from them. Woe to Buffalo--they will now be able to add
this Stanley Cup defeat to their other Stanley Cup debacle and four Super
Bowl disappointments.
The Stars are going to take home the cup thanks to their wonderful penalty
killing and their heart for the cup. Isn't it about time that Modano and
Hull get a cup?
Buffalo is much faster, has a better goalie, and can check with anyone in
the league. Dallas has played two tough series and are somewhat dinged up
going into the finals. Buffalo should win the series in six games.
The Stars take this in 5 games (o.k. maybe 6) and here's why: 1.) 2nd and
3rd line match ups - Dallas has been the deepest team since Detroit was
eliminated. They simply wore down Colorado's offensive weapons. 2.)
Defense wins championships - There shouldn't be any question in anyone's
mind that Dallas has, by far, the better blue line duos. Speed kills, but
so do major drain clogs. 3.) Ready for the Cup - Not to downplay Buffalo's
desire to drink from Lord Stanley's Cup, but Dallas was built for this
moment and home ice IS an advantage.
Dallas. They've got incredible firepower (ask Roy), and so far, Buffalo
(and Hasek) hasn't seen anything like that. Plus, they are incredible
defensively (and in goal). And with a Buffalo team that scores by
capitalizing on mistakes, Buffalo's tallies will be few and far between.
Buffalo just can't match up.
The Buffalo Sabres will win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their
team history. Dominik
Hasek is the best goaltender of the modern era. Few hockey fans
dispute this. What has moved the Sabres to the next level in the playoffs
is their ability to not completely rely on Hasek to win games for them
every night. During the season, Buffalo's offense was not a strong team
characteristic. In the playoffs, the powerplay has been very effective and
these key goals have given Hasek the cushion he needs to be his best.
Buffalo wins the Cup in six games, with Hasek, once again, making the
difference.
Let me be honest, I don't like the Stars to win the cup, they play too
UGLY to be the champions. Maybe, Just maybe, With Satan back in their line
up and a healthy Dominator in their net, Sabers can beat them, but only if
they get another brilliant series from Peca, if he could beat Yashin, why
we think he can't beat Modano? Are Stars much more stronger than Senators?
Let's hope Buffalo will win, just for the good of the game and proving that
it is the coolest game on Earth.
It's all about desire and the bottom line is the Sabres want it more.
Every Sabre is throwing punishing hits. I don't think the Stars have seen
that kind of relentless pursuit of the puck yet, and I think it will lead
to some uncharacteristic turnovers by the Dallas D. On the other side,
Buffalo's Defense is more physical than Colorado or St. Louis so Dallas
won't be able to puch guys like Warrener and McKee around. I like Buffalo
in 6 games.
It's all about desire and the bottom line is the Sabres want it more.
Every Sabre is throwing punishing hits. I don't think the Stars have seen
that kind of relentless pursuit of the puck yet, and I think it will lead
to some uncharacteristic turnovers by the Dallas D. On the other side,
Buffalo's Defense is more physical than Colorado or St. Louis so Dallas
won't be able to puch guys like Warrener and McKee around. I like Buffalo
in 6 games.
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